Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-03-17
BIRD TRAINING.
A Regular Avocation Among the
: Germans,
Fho Little Feathered Creatures TANEht
to Perform Many DInieuit and
Amusing Tricks AN Odd
Occupation.

The Holland bird-catchine in autumn
IS regular business, and hints are built
among the sandhills, or In the meadows
joining them, in which the men can sit
in comfort, says the st. Louis Mechanic.
a small window on one side looks on
to tho 'vinkie baan, the level space be-
tween low banks under. which the nets
lie, where linnets and siskins are
tethered to long twigs The ground is
strewcd with grain, and at little dis
lance the best call-birds are placed in
their cages. Goldfinchea are most
priced, for they constantly utter their
ripping song, but redpole or we'll
trained ehathnch is almost equally good.
Holland lies on two of. the main
routes by which birds travel from the
north, for those that come down the
Baltic cross the land at Denmark,
while along the German ocean trave4
thousands from Norway and Sweden,
The meinStay of the bird-catchers arc
the hen chafinches, which leave their
mates in Scandinavia and come in thou
sands. TO southern Europe. Two hun
dred in aday Is not at all an unusual num-
Der to be taken at one ''vinlSie baan."
These are all killed for the table, and
rows of them, with their heads fastened
in split hazel stick, like cartridges in
q game carrier, are seen in every poul-
tcrers shop. The rareP birds-bramb-
lings, cross-bills and redpoles = are
saved and sold for cage-birds, for the
Dutch are particularly fond of aviaries,
aad clever at tanning all kinds of crea-
lures. e.
The writer has often spent an after
noon in the hut watching for the pass
ing of f1ocks of chaffinches. The tame
birds begin to call when they see the
wild ones passing, the men whistle and
pull the strings to which the birds arc
attached, and as they hutter from the
ground the feclc wheel, settle in the
trees close by, and then fly down to the
grain. Hardly have they pitched before
the nets close over them, and the man
runs out to disentangle his captives.
The tame birds are SO used to the nets
that they do not antter or ruf1e
feather, but jump back to their twigs,
eat some more hempseed, and sing
afrcsh, without regarding the death of
their wild relatives,
Rcdpoles, linnets and siskins are
easily tarued, especially the first In a
few days they become perfectly con-
tented with cage life. In fact, knew
OF ono which voluntarily surrendered
its liberty. The winter was u severe
one. and the little follow came in
through the open window of house at
The Hague to share their food with the,
irtls in large aviary. Their mistress
led him regularly, and, though he had
often an opportunity of escaping, he
never availed hipself of it, but lived
for years the merriest occupant of the
cage.
These birds con be taught to, sit mo-
tionleSs on the back OF chair, to ''lle
dead" in Il basin of water, to draw up
their food in an ivory bucket, in few
days; but the trainer must be prepared
~ give them long lessons. Birds minds
differ entirely from those of animals;
they do not learn gradually, and If they
ere to be trained they must be so most
thoroughly. An hour day for week
viii not have one-quGrter the effect that
four hours Of continuous care will
achieve. 1t is this fact that causes so
many disappointments in training
hawks, for men certuiply become tired
End impatient. at the moment when
their labor has begun to produce some
effect. The hawk is put back on his
block, and in a day has forgotten tho
lnlf-learned lesson. In Holland hawks
are still caught wheh on their. autumn
migration, for the line of flight passes,
as it has done from time immemorial,
over the great heath Of Valkens.
ward. I'm North Rrubnnt