Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-14
TRAINING YOUNG BIRDS.
How the Old Birds Instruct Their OF
spring.

How the Old Birds Instruct Their or
spring.
All who have watched birds care
fully have seen them teach the young
to find food, to battle, to follow, to
ting, to fear danger, and other things.
Birds brought up from the nest by
people never learn some of these les
sons. For example, birds so reared
are not afraid Of the human race. L
could give many authenticated in
stances Of this. Then they do not
know their native tongue or under
stand the calls Of their own mother.
and do not sing their fathers song.
A chewlnk or towhee bunting reared
in house sang the song of an ortolan
confined in the next cage, and refused
TO learn the song of his family when
placed next a singing chewink. A
captive young robin learned the song
of a mocking bird, and young blue
lay did the same.
Not only has the fact Of the train
ing of the young been brought to light.
but 1t has been proved that birds are
creatures of habits and live regular
lives. In Alaska last summer. on the
Hartman expedition, DR.. Fisher was
interested to observe that although
the sun did not set till IL o'clock at
night, the birds paid no attention to
the vagaries of that luminary, but
went to bed according to custom at
o'clock, in broad daylight, of course.
If they were disturbed in their slum-
bers, they appeared half awake and
bewildered, as they do in the dark.
One may sometimes see case OF
discipline, like droll one seen among
the domestic inmates of a yard in
Michigan last summer. With the regu-
lar poultry was placed a small party
of ducks and a little pond for their
use The head of this family was
parsonage of dignity, who loved quiet.
and the usual emotional announce
ment Of fresh egg was exceedingly
offensive to his sensitive ear. When
an indiscreet hen became too gushing
he flew at her, caught her by the neck,
dragged her-protesting at the top or
her lungs-into the pond and ducked
her well.
Ole VI Ile utliS VI ititS ouAic AS
to make the acquaintance of restlings
at home, when the mother is absent.
speaking to them quietly, moving
slowly, and If touching them at all,
only with the gentlest touch of fin
ger. The young usually show no fear.
and will often answer ones quiet talk.
I have held conversation in this way
with humming birds in the nest strok'
ing them with my finger, and have
talked with, or to, clear-eyed mourn.
ing dove babies, fluffy little bluejays,
and others. Soon after they leave the
nest they are taught not to permit
such familiarities.
1t Is most interesting to see the pro-
cesses of training that are obvious to
us, such as to fly compactly in flock.
The wing exercise, for example, of
sandpipers, who fly as one bird, as
dwellers on The seashofe know, show
ing one moment all silvery breasts
flashing in the sun, and the next in
stant gray backs that blend with the
ocean color and make them almost
invisible. This wing practice may be
seen over the solitary marshes or low
lands of which they are fond, and one
realizes that perfection of flight is a
matter of much practice, and not Of
instinct. Strange stories are told Of
young trained by birds of another
species to adopt the habits Of the fos-
ter mother, as a bird Of vegetarian
proclivities reared by captive bird
of prey being taught to eat meat, sore
ly against his inclination and against
all the traditions of his race.-Chicago
Tribune.