Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-12-04
The Habits Of Birds.
BY OLIVE THoRNE MILLER.

Birds not only cough and sneeze, but they
dream and snore, making mos. distressing
sounds, as if strsngling. They hiccough-a
very droll affair it is, too,-and they faint
away. The goldfnch spoken of above, be-
ing frightened one night, in his struggles
was caught between the wires, and gave q
cry like the squeak Of a mouse in distress.
On my fastening TO his release, he slipped
out into the room, and few wildly about Til
he hit something and fell to the floor. He
was picked up. and his fright eliminated in
dead faint. The little head dropped, the
body was limp, apparently perfectly life less,
and he was laid in his cage, ready to be
buried in the morning. He was placed
carefully on the breast, however. and in
few minutes he hoped upon his perch,
shook out his rufied feathers, and composed
himself to sleep.
One feat sometimes ascribed to man is in
the case Of birds a literal fact,-they can
sleep with one eve open. This curious hab-
it have watched closely, and find it COM
mon in nearly all the varieties | have been
| able to observe. One eve will close sleepily,
shut tight and appear to enjoy good nap,
while the other is wide awake as ever. 1t is
not always the eye towards the light that
sleeps, nor is it invariably the one from the
hight. The presence or absence of people
makes no difference. | have even had a
bird stand on my arm or knee, draw up one
leg, and seem to sleep soundy with one eve,
while the other was wide open. In several
years close attention | have been unable to
find any cause. either in the position or the
surroundings, for this strange habit.
No ''set old woman" is more welded to
her accustomed "wsys" than are birds in
general to theirs. Their hours for eating
mapping. and singing are as regular as ours.
SO. likewise. are their habits in regard to
alighting places, even to the very tuig they
select. After weeks acquaintance with
the habits OF bird can always tell when
something disturbing Eas occurred, by the
place in which he il found. One bird will
make the desk his favorlte haunt, and freely
visit tables, the rounds of chairs, and the
floor, while another confines himself to the
backs Of chairs, the tops Of cages and pic
ture frames. One hermit thrush frequent
ed the bureau, the looking glass frame, and
the top Of a cardboard map which had
warped around till the upper edge wa al
most circular. On this edge he aid
perch for hours, and twitter and call, bu' no
other bird ever approached it. Still anoth
er would always select the door casing and
window c0rnlces.
Every bird has his chosen place for the
night, usually the highest perch on the
darkest side ofthe cage. They soon become
accustomed to the situation Of the dishes in
their cages, and plainly resent any change.
On my placing drinking cup in new part
Of the cardinals residence, he came down at
once, scolding violently, pretended to drink,
then looked over to the corner where
the water used to be, and renewed his pro-
t-statiouS Then he returned to the upper
perch, flirting his tail and expressing his
mind with great vigor. \ few minutes
passed, and he repeated the performance,
keeping it up with great excitement until, to
paclfy him, replaced the cup. He at once
retired to his usual seat smoothed his
roughened plumage, and in few moments
began to sing. a dress of new color on
their mistress makes great commotion
among these close observers, and the NOV
ing about Of furniture puts the tamest one in
panic. December atlantic.