The Grit-advocate., 1903-09-04
Pink Teas
Bug "a and MRa
Bird Select

home, which, if not the equal of the
woods. is wonderfully adapted, never
theless, to their wants and pecullari-
ties. AS soon as specimen has Deen
studied carefully both in habit ana
song and markings. it is permitted 10
go. while in Miss Marvin's books an
other sketch is made and another
biography completed.
You would naturally suppose" said
Miss Marvin to visitor. that the
birds once freed would never again
wish to see the artificial life l have
prepared for them, but this is not al
ways the case. Not long ago, for In
stance, | liberated a Baltimore orlole
after he had grown up and had nm
ished studying him. Early in the follow
ing morning my maid heard terrlnc
tapping of wings on the window pane
in the back room, and she called 10
me that two birds were trying to get
in. One of these visitors proved to
be my old oriole and he had brought
back with him mate. Although at
first obviously i'll at ease, this new
acquaintance to my ranks soon ad-
justed herself to her new surround
ings. The old oriole feels his au-
thority. being perhaps the oldest in
habitant,' and his mpertinent conduct
while on morning parade is most
amusing"
The large cage is like an ever
changing Kaleidoscope of color. The
brown and red of the robins and the
flashing bluebirds wings mingle with
the more sober hucs of the teewit, the
flycatcher and the meadow lark, and
conspicuous through all is the restless
scarlet orlole, a living spot of fire.
Are there ever any misunderstand-
ings between your animals that you
are called upon to settle!' Miss Mar
vim was asked.
"Oh, yes" she replied with smile.
81 am often compelled to don the cap
and cloak and arbitrate IN their quar-
rels. Even the smallest animals, if
patiently trained can be made to
learn the lesson of obedience to man
kind. For an entire year, my first in
New Jersey, I fed the birds out OF
that east window every morning. Now
I can't keep them away. Promptly at
half after six-we are early risers, you
see-the clatter begins beneath the
window. My appearance upon the
scene is the signal for noisy morn
ing greeting. Up they come in swarms
not even waiting for me to throw the
food on the ground for them. Some.
times there are as many as twenty
birds. all noisy. all hungry, in feath-
cry ball around the bread pan.
Il have known stragglers who had
not received their portion to fly
against the window after it had been
closed in an attempt to tell me that
they had been forgotten, while in the
summer, when the window is left
open. they will come six and seven
at a time to line themselves on the
table and pick up remnants.
at is interesting to see the signals
that are exchanged between the free
and the captive birds. On pleasant
days I roll back the glass roof so that
the animals may get the warm sun
and air, and it is not uncommon for
free birds that have fed to fly down
into the room and with tiuttering
wings cry out discordant challenge.
to the prisoners.
"Once every week on the same day
| give a little informal pink tea as
it were, on my front lawn. There is
spread suitable feast, and I have
known squirrels and even the shy
woodchuck to come unbidden from the
stone fence and partake gingerly OF
my bounty, Drawing the danger of the
open road and my pet dachshund
Creo, who entertains, | imagine, feel
ings of great jealousy. New York
! Press.