The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-25
From the Washington star.

srriVpu IN W dSnlll5 iDAA SNSNNAANJt ~ ms
i,q with him 1900 of the songster kings,
On Mexican parrots, 400 crested redbirds.
o. Mexican monkeys and number of
oeautful fur robes.
He started Christmas eve from South
ern Mexico, and hoped to be in Washing
Ton in time to see Mckinley inaugurated,
Init the monkeys got sick on the way and
he was compelled to stop off. His trip,
boua.,er was an unusually unlucky one,
and only eight hooking birds died on the
lorg journey 81
,rbore are few of the old-time trappers
a. bo seen nowadays, and Jake is a true
.,,,resentative of that hardy class that
lave disappeared from civilization. The
- fanciers in the east claim all their
lime The exciting ride after the buffalo
has been succeeded by the tame sport of
h,r5 catching. But there is money in it,
and as this is the desideratum, there is
W orumbling. A reporter of the Star
hunted him up last evening and had
1onq talk with the acknowledged author
3., m hooking birds. Jake is tall an
o,,lar man. with bronzed features, a typi-
ool TRAINER in fact Although past the
middle of life, he IS lively, and his bright
eyes dance as ne rehearses some exploit
ri the plains. In his early days he was
g,,ide and the Lone Star State is re-
snonsible for his existence. He recalls
with pleasure the early days on the from
tier the Numerous brushes he has mad
with the Greasers, and the superb hunting
that e now but memory. He remembers
the large herds of buffalo that frequented
rhvas but a few years ago, and sadly re-
Iates the merciless slaughter that eXter-
minated them When wagon trains with
an7ierants no more sought homes in me
great southwest Jake's business as sulde
failed. He then became a hunter, and
later hearing of the big prices paid in the
east for hooking birds, and seeing an un-
limited supply in sight, he became a bird
catcher. Jake was in reminiscent mood
last night and talked at length.
cot course / like the bird-catching bus
fness. 1t amt much sport, but 1t Keeps
me out in the country, away from the
city and brings me enough money TO
I,een this old hulk afioat. A hooking
bird is a curious fellow He can beat any
bird 7 ever heard singing, can fight like
old sullivan used to, and, all in all, IS
+he happiest little bird that flies, He
isn't much to look at; that IS he hasn
red feathers and green wings, but when II
comes to shape, he is entitled to the front
row in the ballet Then look at the sense
the bird has. He can entertain you all
dav with songs, and never repeat. one
minute we hear him whistle like a ca
nary. the next like a cat bird, ana next
he sends every bird to cover with his re-
markable imitation of hawk Anywhere
in the south you can find them, but away
down there in Texas in the low, swampy
country he is more at home, ana any
bright morning now the woods are re-
sounding with his merry song. His song
is sweetest lust now, for he is flirting ana
has an eve for matrimony. Next month
he gets down to business and takes unto
himself a partner. They build their nest
an some low bush or tree, seldom more
than eight feet from the ground, ana III
the midst of dense thiclxet. Two broods
are atched each season. during the
nesting season, the hooking bird eVinces
a great jealousy for the nest, and. moth
ing is permitted to approach It.
They fight to the death for their little
ones. 1t takes fourteen days of constant
attention before the eggs hatch. The 1T
tie birds are easily reared and live Tor
the most part on berries. Now and tnen
a fat spider is added to the food. ana
they grow with great rapidly. There
are some people who prefer to have these
nestlings for raising. but experience has
taught me that the best birds for singing
are the young healthy ones that have
learned to fly. Before he is two months
Old the male bird begins to sing, and
from that time on until old age, save dur
ing the melting season, he keeps things
merry.
How do cacth them? It's easy enough.
It's to keep them healthy that requires
the greatest care. Usually take my out
fit in the hooking bird country and pitch
my tent near a thicket, where / have no
ticed the birds to be plentiful. Before
the sun rises my traps are in position,
and before the sun has got well up in
the heavens the days work Is over. A
cage with a false door and a captive bird
Is the device usually employ. You know
hooking birds are great fighters and most
inquisitive. When they espy a strange bird
in a cage they Immediately commence an
investigation. That's what gets them
into trouble. There's a sudden spring, and
then / collect him for the bird fanciers.
II is all mistake to say that captive
birds do not sing as well as those that
are free. / will admit that the constant
noises of city do not furnish many beau
utul notes for the bird to initiate, but,
generally speaking, there is little differ
ence in the songs.
The first question a would-be purchas-
know that this is a male bird?' They know
Wei enough that the female birds do not
make good stongsters, although there are
times during the year when the female
sings as well as the male. Why, one Of
me finest whistlers l ever heard in my
life was female. No one knew it I'M
III one morning a little light blue egg,
with large brown spots, was found in the
cage. That was before / went into the
bird-catching business. Now 1 defy any
one to fool me. After little experience
It IS the easiest thing in the world to
distinguish the sexes. All that Is neces-
ssary is to examine the wings. The male
oirds have four white feathers, perfect
" shaped and marked. Look out for the
nfd II the feathers are splashed. Then
me male bird Is larger. In selecting a
ora get one If possible that is just be-
gnning to sing. The four-feather bird is
usually the best. ] was asked a short
tme ago II hooking birds would breed
N captivity. My answer is yes they will,
Il properly cared for. AS ! have said. a
hooking bird is shy, and il requires iso-
.d'lon from the busy scenes of the day to
make him contented when 1t comes 20
aals'ng family. Birds raised this way
are 70 my mind the very best. since they
necome accustomed TO you and may be
H. a.. T..