Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-14
TANNING WILD BIRDS.
feathered Creatures Are as Susceptible
to Kindness as Human Beings


feathered Creatures Are as Susceptible
to Kindness Human Beings.
When young l raised many wild birds,
and as the time is coming for their mating
and busy season for building and rearing
their young it may give some young folks
pleasure to explain the method by which
was perfectly successful
watched the nest of such as desired to
get until the young birds were old enough
to feed and not old enough to fly or get
scared. then loosened the nest carefully,
placed it in tight cage near the bars.
with ledge outside from which it might
be convenient for the parent bird to feed
them. The cage should be hung in some
convenient place near where the nest had
been located, on a tree or bush, out of the
reach of cats.
At first the old birds are shy, and mani
fest their disapprobation by rapid darting
around and scolding in loud voices, vet
never found them to desert their offspring,
but feeding them regularly. l would then
begin TO feed them, too, with little sweet
biscuit, berries, seeds and worms or some
green stuff. The old birds attended them
for time, finally leaving them to my care.
There is current idea afioat that after
they find their young prisoners the old
birds poison them. 1t is not so, as l have
tested it thoroughly. After removing the
cage to the house, the old birds having
ceased their care, fed them in the usual
way, paying the same attention to cleanli-
ness and carefully giving them fresh wa
ter for frequent bathing.
once raised a pet yellow bird, a lively
little feathered creature, about the size of
a canary and almost similar in color. The
plumage of the male was of a bright yell
low color; wings, tail and crown black.
The plumage of the female was more of a
brownish yellow. They build their nests
in bushes of lichens cemented and inter
woven together, and lined inside with some
soft substance. They were very thick
around the house. as they generally arc
where mustard seeds are plenty.
learned TO have confidence IN giving
them their liberty by accident. One har-
vest day mother came out TO the field and
eXcitedly told me that my pet bird had es-
capped from the cage, which had set in the
window of an upper room. / came to the
house feeling sad, as a child would, and
found my bird perched in the topmost
branch of high pear tree, gleefully enjoy
ing its freedom. Procuring n biscuit from
the house I called to it, and received its
chirping answer as it turned its head and
recognized its once master.
To my surprise it few down, perched
upon my shoulder, fed upon the biscuit,
and allowed me TO put it in the cage again.
After that / gave it liberty. Nothing de-
lighted it so much as to hop out of the cage
on to my finger, fly to my shoulder and
manifest its great delight by STOPPING
ruffling its feathers, spreading its wings in
quivering pleasure, and sticking out its
little bill to be kissed like pouting child.
had it in the shop one day, hopping
around, when it suddenly fell over as in a
fit, but recovered only to relapse into
another while on my shoulder and died in
my hands. I buried it lovingly back of
the barn, with post for headetone-
Natures Realm