Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-04-02

he ca,.>
were confne-
of which was mau.
a space Of about six Il.
Into this space red-hot coaIe
In the saloon were placed, and as
sheet became heated the poor birds ~
iop from one foot to the other in their vain
endeavors to escape from the pain. So far
this was simple enough, but very soon these
birds learned to associate the rattling of the
stove when the Goals were taken out with the
cause of their distress. Finally it was neces-
the birds dance.
"One of the most ingenious ways of util-
izing the natural proclivities of wild birds
and animals is to train them for hunting
purposes. Perhaps the most interesting ex-
ample of this is the way in which the cor
morant is trained by the Chinese to catch
fish. The cormorant is very intelligent
bird and is easily domesticated. They read-
lily lay when captured, and their eggs are
Chinese fisherman has a number of these
birds he begins while they are young TO train
them, to teach them to obey his commands,
and to come to him when they are called. He
next allows them their freedom In the water
where they soon develop their natural in
clinations to fish. A metal ring is next fas-
tened snugly around each cormorant's neck.
As they Invariably bolt the fsh which
they catch, this ring prevents them
from swallowing it. The fisher
man takes his birds out on
raft to some favorable fishing ground and
puts them overheard. They begin diving for
fish. As soon as fish is secured the cor
morant comes to the surface to swallow it,
but is prevented from doing 80 by the ring
around its neck. The bird is then called to
the float by the fisherman, who robs it of its
prey and then loosens the ring and rewards
the bird with small piece of fsh. The FISH,
erman refastens the ring about the neck of
the cormorant and the whole operation is re-
peated. Some of these cormorants are 30
perfectly trained that they will catch and de-
liver fish without being restrained by ring or
cord. The otter is also trained to catch fish.
In fact there are few animals that have not
been utilized by man, and forced to serve
him where his own capabilities are iuade-
quate.
"Nonkeys are sometimes used to collect
tea leaves from crags which are inaccessible to
man, and to gather the fruit of the cocoanut
trees. Ferrets are used for the extermina-
tion of rats and for hunting rabbits. The
cheetah, or hunting leopard, is trained and
made to hunt antelopes in India. The old
custom of hunting with falcons is still cara
ried on in some parts of Europe and South
America, in the capture of herons, hares and,
with the aid of greyhounds, even the ante.
lope.
"The education of all classes of animals
and birds is founded on the universal prin-
ciple and method of subjection. The animal
or bird operated upon is led by stages from
utter ignorance to understand and to obey
the will of the master. In some cases, es-
pecially that of the falcon, the prime
factor is hunger. 1t is said that some
obstinate specimens of these birds are
kept without food for three days and
| three nights, during all of which time they
are handled without intermission by relay 8
of falconers. The object of this ia to subdue
them, break all their wild spirit, and elimi-
nate all memory of former freedom and inde-
pendence.
s'The breaking of animals is still done ac-
cording to the rules laid down centuries ago,
although of late years marked progress has
been made in the rapidity with which the re-
/ suit is obtained. For instance, whereas it
was formerly considered quite satisfactory to
perfect saddle horse in year or even two
| years, good horse can now be educated in
| less than six months. And yet, with all
our material of fins bred horses, there are
not dozen really high school horses in New
York city, scarcely that number of well
trained carriage horses or perfectly equipped
| turnouts."