Morning journal and courier., 1885-03-19
BIRD LIFE.
Interesting Inmates of "a Small Aviary
In Connecticut.

In COnnecticut.
tFrom the Hartford Courant.l
Our aviary is source of unceasing de-
light. 1t is only cheap affair, composed of
three sashes with double glass; four feet in
width by five in height, built as bay win
dow, with the floor about four inches below
the sill of the window, which was removed,
and which wa. supplanted by wire netting,
part of which formed door between the
sitting room and aviary for convenience of
feeding the birds &C.; the roof composed of
matched pine, and the whole costing less
than fifteen dollars; this constitutes our avi-
sry 1t is not an elaborate affair or costly,
but is all that is necessary for the accommo-
dation and comfort of small collection of
birds, say from twelve to eighteen of the diff
ferent kinds of our smaller birds, as the
sparrows, the titmice (or chiekadees), cana
res, &C., and smaller number of larger
ones. It is supplied with two stationary
perches extending the entire length of the
cage and one swinging perch. The floor OF
the aviery is always kept covered with gray
el to tho depth of half an inch or more,
which needs to be frequently changed.
Among the most interesting of the wild
birds which we have caught and confined in
our aviary are the grosbeaks which, though
habitants of Hudson's Bay and vicinity, and
only occasional visitants here, were seen in
unusual numbers last winter, and several of
which succeeded in capturing. They are
the most devoted and fascinating of all our
pets, and within twenty-four hours from the
time of their capture would hop upon the
fingers and eat seeds from the hand of any
one who gently offered them, and seemed
perfectly contented with their new home and
surroundings. They are wonderfully fond
of the berries of the red cedar, and one had
only to offer them handful OF these to
fr;a do at
It is interesting to observe the maternal
friendship that has sprung up between one
of the grosbeaks and a slate-colored snow
bird, (Junco hyemalis) which each morning
takes his position beside the grosbeak, and
as fast as she cracks the canary seeds he
takes them from her bill, throws away the
1 shell and swallows the kernel, and both
1 seem perfectly satisfied with this arrange
ment. Another snowbird in the aviary new
or ventures upon the privilege accorded to
his companion.
The pet of the birds in our aviary is the
lesser red poll, bird smaller than the song
| sparrows, with red neck, breast and back,
| and, contrary to the description given of his
winter dress, has yellow instead of red
poll. Although a small bird, and having but
| one sound leg, he "knows his rights, and,
| knowing, dare maintain He is not at all
| ousrrelsome, however, but will not be
| 'sbossed" by the best of them. All the birds
| are quite considerate of him, owing possibly
to the fact that he is a cripple, and make
/ way for and give him place at the seed dish
| whenever he hops toward it.
An interesting phenomenon, and one TOR
| which am as yet unable to account, is the
| change of plumage of two out of the three
| female grosbeaks 1 have now confined in my
| aviary. When caught one year since their
| plumage was the same and corresponded with
I the description given by ornithologists, viz.
| female, ashy brownish above, tinged with
| greenish yellow beneath; top of head,
rump and upper tail covents brownish gam
1 boge yellow When they shed their feathers
| and renewed their plumage last autumn two
of them appeared in an entirely new dress,
viz. the head, neck and breast feathers of q
| handsome bright orange, while the plumage
| of the third is the same as it was when she
was caught. They are all beauties and not
at all disposed to be tyrannical or quarrel
| some.
Another pet of the aviary is the quail,
| (Ortux Virginianus.) Although little shy
| for few weeks, it is domesticated by care
| full treatment and handling, and soon be-
comes one of the gentlest and most pleasing
of the birds. His shrin "Bob White" Is
heard as soon as the daylight begins to
dawn, from the beginning to the end OF sum-
mer. He never quarrels and allows the
| smaller birds to take all sorts OF liberties
with him at all times.