The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-03
WAYS AND SONGS OF BIRDS.
BY OLIVE THoRNE MILLER.
ST. LOUIS. Mo

"For the loveliest things in this world of ours
Are the ways and the songs of BIRDS"
The old notion that our feathered
neighbors are governed by instinct
alone, that young bird just out of
the nest is endowed with the wisdom
of his fathers and has nothing to
learn, has been completely over
turned by closer observation of their
lives. 1t is now well known that
young birds are educated or trained
by their parents. The process is
short, of course, as development in
every way is speedy, but it is unmis-
takably marked.
One way this is known is by the
fact that birds taken from the nest
and reared by people, away from
their kin, differ greatly from their
brothers trained by their parents.
For one thing they have no fear of
the human race, Among many other
cases reported, a close observer in
South America, Mr.. Hudson, tells of
bringing up a family of Rheas, or
South American ostriches, which he
took from the nest. Although the
birds under home training are the
most shy of their kind, his little
ones never showed the least fear of
human beings, and when he initiated
the danger cry of the family-which
they learn in the nest, they would run
to him for protection, trying to hide
in his clothing.
A lady I know in England has
reared many birds from the nest, and
it is her unvarying experience that
they never fear people. When they
are grown, and thoroughly wonted to
life in house, she gives them their
freedom, and they live and nest out
side in her grounds, returning to the
house for food, as refuge from cold
or storms, and often, as it appears,
merely to see their friends.
In Search of Food.
A still more convincing proof that
young birds are trained, is that we
have seen it done. All through this
month of July, the patient watcher
may see feathered little folk being
taught to find their own food, to fol-
low their parents, to fly in flock, to
come together at night, and to sing.
Doubtless many other things enter
into their training that have not been
discovered.
The most careless observer must
have noticed youngsters accompany
ing one or both p arents about, seeing
where and how food was procured.
If he had looked little more closely
and watched patiently, he might
have seen the parent, after feeding
for some time, suddenly and silently
disappear, leaving the youngling
alone on the feeding ground. He
might see, too, as l have seen, the
elder catch some insect, delectable,
no doubt, and plainly much desired
by the little one, and while the baby
was begging for it in his pretty coax
ing way, calmly eat it himself; les
son-was it nots that whose wishes
to eat must first learn to catch.
Catching Flies.
A phoebe l once saw teaching her
offspring to catch flies, or rather,
teaching him that he must learn to
depend upon himself. The two were
on leaAess sapling, SO that l could
see them distinctly. l was attracted
by curious, continuous talk in phoebe
tones (which of itself was noteworthy
in that reserved family, answered at
every pause by a querulous, com.
planning note from the young bird.
Never was conversation more plain
ly carried on than between those two
Now and then the parent would tiy
out and catch something. as much as
to say, "See how easy it isl" and then
to complete the object lesson, eat it
herself. The youth still begged and
complained, but when at length mann
ma flew away, he fellto catching flies
for himself.
In similar way baby water ouzel