The Opelousas courier., 1891-09-12
THE CROW AS PET BIRD.
1T CAN BE TAUGHT TO TALK BET
TER THAN THE PARROT.
The Way to Train Them While They
r YounG-Amusing Creatures
as They Get Older and Wiser.

II way TO lfaIn Ilen w nile 1ney
are Youns-Amusing Creatures
as They Get Older and Wiser.
Grows make very amusing pets tor any
one who can put up with their innate
spirit of devilry, and besides that they
can be taught to talk more distinctly
than most parrots, says Natures Realm.
It is a common idea among the country
people that they will not talk unless
their tongues are cut at a certain tender
age. Be that as it may, I have heard
crows talk excelIently that never had
their tongues cut, and some whose
tongues are cut never will talk at all. l
always take my chances without cutting,
and out of nearly a dozen that | have
owned only two proved void of a bump
of language.
To be sure of having a good, affec-
tionate crow, take him from the nest as
soon after Matching as you can find him.
If he is the first of the brood Matched all
the better. How are you to tell that2
Why, if you find one baby crow
and four eggs in the nest, does
not that settle the question beyond
disputed Name him as soon as you get
home. 1t is a good plan to have a family
consultation N the subject, for a re-
christening is fatal to the proper educa-
ton Of your eaiiow charge. Always call
him by name when you feed him. He
will learn his name before he knows
what feathers are, and respond to it
whenever he hears it uttered.
Feed until half fe3gel on meal and
water-regular ''chieSen dough"--and
if any ''chicken sickness comes on on
suit the sschicken doctor" Ia other
words, the young crow must be raised
on about the same diet as a young chick
en-. Feed plenty and feed often. A
crows nest is the best thing to keep him
in during his infantile days. If you
| haven't one make a substitute. As he
grows in strength and is able to travel
about a little he needs more variety in
his food, but be careful he does not
swallow anything that is very salt.
Dump a handful of gravel down his
mouth occasionally and give him min
nows and frogs once in a while. Swal-
lowing his first live frog seems to give a
| young crow a most agreeable new sensa-
ton. Do not be in a hurry about max
ing him bathe.
He will wash himself whenever it is
necessary, and if taken and plunged into
cold water while the pinfeathers are full
| of blood it may cause him to literally
s.catch his death o. cold" As soon as
he is well on the wing his language les
sons should begin. Shut him up in a
| darkened room when well fed, and begin
by whispering the word or phrase you
wish him to learn. If he seems to listen,
| repeat it a little louder, and continue
until he either grows restless or goes to
| sleep. It will be but a few minutes.
| Repeat the same lesson and nothing
else every time youvisit him or pass with
in hearing for a week or ten days, and if
your crow doesn't talk in that time he
probably " will.
Generally they will begin to practice
to themselves the first or second day of
their Imprisonment, but once a word or
| phrase is learned others will quickly fol-
low. If really talented you can make
your crow appear to answer any ques-
ton. For instance, call his name
gently and add "What" in a loud,
emphatic tone. Soon, when his nameis
called, he will respond What with
just the same emphasis aud infection
that he has heard you give. Then,
again, if you say, ''It's dinner-time''
whenever you feed him, some day he will
walk into the house hungry and gravely
announce stIt's dinner.time.a
As he grows in years and knowledge
your crow will develop a variety Of thiev-
ish and amssing tricks o. numerous to
mention. He will cultivate the most
friendly acquaintance with some people
and show an unaccountable animosity
toward others. He will attend you part
way whenever you leave home, and if
your hours of return are regular, will
probably meet you at the same spot and
welcome you exuberantly. Every time
he fails to do so look for him at once;
he will either be in some utterly entranc-
ing bit OF mischief or else dead.