Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-13

Their Value rs Pets. and HoU t. Teach
Them Tricks.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
A pet canary in the house Is a sunbeam Al
ways busy, never having an idle moment and
always doing something new, it enlivens the
| dull and encourages the slothful to industry.
| Young girls or wives with a long and lonely
| afternoon of mending before them can set the
| cage on the table beside the workba chat
to the bird, sing with it and teach 1t new notes
| as the needle is piled. Patience and continual
| instruction only can teach bird tricks Because
| it sometimes gives no outward sign OF imitation
| is not to be accepted as o belief that it is not
learning. 1t is practicing the trick, in private
| and not until after perfect rehearsal will 1t
| give public exhibition. To teach a bird to
kiss, hold him lightly, chatting in soothing
tones, TIL IN, ne is quiet; then kiss the bill re-
| Kiss the bill again and again till he ceases to
| struggle in fear OF the salute; then bestow a
| him to partake OF his endowment Repeat this
/ the next day-several times q day If YOU wish
| to teach him quckly-and he soon resorts to
| this performance as method of coaxing, OPEN
| ing and closing his bill between your lips ex-
| actly as you have done by him; SO nearly as
| lips do not notice it before him. The cage OF a
nervous bird should never be touched without
first calling the tenants attention, because,
being always engaged in some project, an abb
rupt action startles him just as it would q
human being W no is come upon suddenly.
10 teach him to sit upon your finger draw a
chair up near the cage, hold conference with
him, and then introducing a finger between the
wires near MS 1aVor1te perch hold it there,
patiently reading your book or paper mean
while. The new object showing no disposition
90 harm him, he goes up cautiously tor an ex-
animation. Tlsen he picks to ascertain the
material-may be he fights it. This is a good
sign. he no longer fears it. Repay him with
some choice morsel and cheerful words for his
courage. Try him again in the afternoon He
may go further and light on it. Possibly the
trick may take several days. Be patient. Once
the step is attained, vary the program by in
Producing the finger in other spots. He will
soon light on 1t at any point angle. Next try
thrusting the fingers under the door. Next
time fasten 1t open, blocking egress with the
rest of the hand as one finger extends within,
When he perches on it draw him forth little
way. Next tempt him to the perch outside a
little, and so on. In a short time you but have
10 open the cage door, uplift a finger, and he
Is sure to fly for it, and he may be thus called to
any part OF the room to rest ON the familiar
perch.
To eat from the fingers let him hunger
several days for some favOrite dainty-say fig.
Show him one; disregard his elation: do not let
MIN nave 1t. Spread a few seeds over the end
OF your finger and offer them close by his
perch, allowing him plenty of time for specula-
tlOn Soon he will snatch of a seed or two. If
ne utterly refuses, put him sadly away, leaving
the ng where he may see it. Next day try
again; neil take one or more. That will do do
not plague him any longer. Give him piece
OF hg in the cage, and leave him alone until
next day. He may feel independent, being sur
1elted, and refuse to pick. No matter; put him
away without his fig. The next day he is sure
70 pick all off the fingers. Praise the act and
reward him. After that it is plain sailing.