The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-06-14

| (1S74-77) in the upper floor of brew
cry at Colchester, upon n cross-beam
Immediately under the stage surround
steam wort copper. In this position
they we're subject to n strange diversity
of startling and sudden noises from in
territorial or accidental escapes of steam,
the trampling of feet, and frequent re-
moval of heavy weights within tour
inches of the nest. In addition, about
three feet over the nest large hot
water tank was heated several times a
day by direct injection of steam from a
high-pressure steam-pipc, two inches in
diameter which made most deafening
Nose, and when ebullition commenced
the oscillation of the whole building was
alarming, even to men, If unaccustomed
to it. Almost every day the birds were
enveloped for several hours in dense
volumes of steam rolling off from the
boiling wort and for upwards of an
hour each morning, during the removal
of ii E spent hops from the copper, the
hole by which they gained access to
their young throughout feeding time
was entirely blocked. At all other
times they had to fly within q few inches
of the workmen engaged Immediately
over the nest
Notwithstanding all the apparent
disadvantages, these birds built regu-
larry four successive springs, and each
year raised a healthy brood of young
ones. They seemed to have perfect
comprehension of the security afforded
by the general order given by the firm
of brewers that ANY interference with
the birds or nest would be followed
by instant dismissal of all concerned,
and they were probably tempted by the
rich supply of food constantly found in
the swarms of flies that resorted to the
spent hops.
Having repeatedly noted the sur
roundings of these birds, am inclined
to believe that their selection of a site
for home was as. remarkable as any
hitherto recorded The bu lding was de-
molished in the autumn of 1877, and
upon the return of the birds from win
ter quarters the following spring they
were obviously distressed at their loss
for several days, and then deserted the
locality"
Another contributor furnishes the fol-
lowing; "A year ago my son bought
sparrow, which he put in good
sized cage. The bird was very young,
not too shapely, and very ravenous.
He could fly little, but seemingly did
not care to go toofar. In the course
of time, however, he gained sufficient
strength and confidence to fly about the
garden, and would follow and perch on
the hands or heads of any of our family.
Presently he ventured into an oak,
from which he would enter into familiar
converse with us, and would also
debate in most vigorous and excited
tones with any of his own species that
happened to be in the tree. In short,
he rapidly developed the well-known
qualities of his race, and his conduct is
now marked with all the impudence,
pugnacity, loquacity, voracity, and ir.
repressibllity which are the distinguish
ing features of the sparrow tribe. He
roams with perfect freedom over
meadow, wood and common, and dis.
ports himself wheresoever he pleases:
but he invariably comes in before sun.
set, and quietly goes to roost on his
perch in the cage, the door of which is
always left open for his convenience.
sin his younger days, while sowing
his wild oats, he was given to staying
out all night; but then when this oc-
CURED he was certain to be found the
next morning sitting on my fence wait
ing to be let in, and looking very rak,
ish,, wretched and disreputable. and
half ashamed OF himself And after
these nocturnal absences he usually
dozed away the following day. usual
ly let him out the first thing in the
morning. He comes back at least half
dozen times day, and has most of
ms meals with my family, occasionally
breakfasting with me off my plate, and,
not being an unsociable bird, he some
times visits my neighbors, who know
and welcome him. He also now and
then brings a friend or two home with
him, but they, lacking his confidence,
stay without and long, while he feasts
within. He very often sees me off in
the morning. When | go out | hear
short, sharp, unmistakable chirp, and,
looking up, recognize my feathered
friend on the gutter-pipe chipping good,
bye. In fact, he and | are great
frends-so great, indeed, that at times,
when he is in particularly high spirits,
he shows an incipient disposition ia
romp with me.
His appetite is marvellous and his
taste multifarious Bread butter
dough, jam, marmalade, cakes and
pastry of all kinds, sugar, milk and
meal, to say nothing of ordinary bird.
seed and green stuff, seem in no way ia
disturb his digestion. He is apparent.
~ always hungry, and appears to en-,
JOY the most robust health. 80
Z" have been in doubt as to whetbe,
l should not lose him this spring; but
am happy to say that, although it is
evident, from the pieces of mat, STRANDS
OF carpet, feathers ard other odds and
ends which he carries off, that he has
assumed marital responsibilities and
gone into housekeeping, he still returns
every evening as usual"