Morris tribune., 1885-04-15
The Habits of Birds.

Birds not only cough and sneeze, but
distressing sounds, as if strangling.
They hiccough-a very droll affair it is,
too,-and they faint away. The gold
finch spoken of above, being frighten-
ed one night, in his struggles was
caught between the wires, and gave a
cry like the squeak Of mouse in dis
tress. On my fastening to his release,
he slipped out into the room, and flew
wildly about till he hit something and
fell to the floor. He was picked up,
and his fright eliminated in a dead
faint. The little head dropped, the
body was limp, apparently perfectly
lifeless, 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 hop
ped upon his perch, shook out his ruff
fed 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 eye open. This
curious habit I have watched closely,
and find it common in nearly all the
varieties have been able to observe.
One eye will close sleepily, shut tight
and appear to have 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 light. The presence or alb
sence Of people makes no difference. I
have even had bird stand on my arm
or knee, draw up one leg, and seem to
sleep soundly with one eye, while the
other was wide open. In several years
close attention I 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 ''ways' 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 aGghting places,
even to the very twig they select. After
weeks acquaintance with the habits
of bird, / can always tell when some
thing disturbing has occurred, by the
place in which he is found. One bird
will make the desk his favorite haunt,
and freely visits tables, the rounds of
chairs, and the floor, while another
confines himself to the backs of chairs,
the tops of cages and picture frames.
One hermit thrush frequented the bu-
reau, the looking-glass frame, and the
top Of cardboard map, which had
warped around till the upper edge was
almost circular. On this edge he would
perch for hours, and twitter and call,
but no other bird ever approached it.
Still another would always select the
door casing and window cornices.
Every bird has his chosen place for
the night, usually the highest perch on
the darkest side of the cage. They soon
become accustomed to the situation of
the dishes in their cages, and plainly
resent any change. On my placing a
drinking cup in new part of the car
dinal's residence, he came down at
once, scolded violently, pretended to
drink, then looked over to the corner
where the water used to be, and re-
newed his protestations. Then he re-
turned to the upper perch, flirting his
tail and expressing his mind with great
vigor. A few minutes passed, and he
the performance, keeping it
up with great excitement until, to pac-
ify him, l replaced the cup. He at
once retired to his usual seat, smooth
ed his roughened plumage, and in q !
few moments began to sing. A dress
Of new color on their mistress makes
great commotion among these close