The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-10
THE HABITS OF BIRDS.

Birds do not cough and sneeze, but
they dream and snore, making the most
distressing sounds, as if strangling.
They hiccough-a very droll affair it is,
too-and they faint away. A goldinch
being frightened one night, in his strug-
giles was caught between the wires, and
gave cry like the squeak of mouse in
distress. On my Fastening to his relief,
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 dead faint
The little head dropped, the body was
limp, apparently perfectly ifeless. and
he was lain in his cage ready to be buri-
ed in the morning. He was placed care
fully on his breast, however, and in a few
moments he hoped upon his perch,
shook out his ruffled feathers, and com
posed himself to sleep.
One feat sometimes ascribed to man is
in the case of birds literal fact-they
can sleep with one eye open. This Curl
GUS habit have watched closely, and I
find it common in nearly all the varieties
I have been able to observe. One eye
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 toward the light that sleeps, nor is it
invariably the one from the light. The
presence or absence of people makes no
difference. 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 il 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 eat
ing, mapping and singing are as regular
as ours. So, likewise, are their habits in
regard to alighting places, even to the
very twig they select. After weeks &C.
quaintance with the habits of bird, I
can always tell when something disturb
ing has occurred, by the place in which
he is found. One bird will make the
desk his favorite haunt, and freely visit
tables, the rounds Of chairs, and the floor,
while another confines himself to the
the back of chairs, the tops of cages
and picture frames. One old hermit
thrush frequented the bureau, and look
ing-glass frame, and the top of card
board map which had warped around till
the upper edge was almost circular. On
this edge he would perch for hours, twit-
ter and call, but no other bird ever ap-
preached it. Still another would always
select the door casing and window cor
nices.
Every bird has his chosen place for the
night, usually the highest place on the
darkest side of the cage. They soon be-
come accustomed to the situation of the
dishes in their cages, and plainly resent
any change. On my placing drinking
cup in a new part of the cardinals resi-
dence, he came down at once, scolding
violently, pretended to drink, then look
ed over to the corner where the water
used to be, and renewed his protestations.
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, keep
ing it up with great excitement until, to
pacify 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 moving about of furniture puts
the tamest one, in psnic.-Atlantic.