New-York tribune., 1905-07-16

next, and usually a great bargain. too. for
the majority Of people value a bird only accord
ing to it's song gaudy plumage, while some
OF the birds most interesting to the visitor at
the Geological Park and most valuable from a
scientific point of view are blessed with neither
Of these attributes
In years gone by New-York City abounded in
q multitude of small bird stores scores of which
sDrang into transient existence at the periods of
Canary bird fads. but they rapidly vanished
ssSain To-day, while the trust bogey has not in
faded the realm of livestock dealers, yet most
pf the importing of foreign birds in New York
City is in the hands of two three wholesale
concerns Weekly or monthly bulletins from
these places advise of the frequent shiploads of
birds, canaries and parrots, of course, forming
an overwhelming majority of the whole. Yet
there are many treasures to be had at odd times,
and telephone call that some new, unknown
species of birds have arrived is enough to arouse
Ine's expectations. Some kind of little gray
]rd" may prove to be some rare weaver or finch
iom the other hemisphere, while, the other
Kand, African wild geese" sometimes turn out
to lie nothing but specimens of our native white
frOnted geese imported from abroad.
The average small bird costs from 70 cents to
Is and upward, while larger and rarer birds
command higher prices. A famingo will bring
go to $40, a cassowary from $125 to $225, and
fer a full grown ostrich the price ranges from
$50 to $4OO. Birds of paradise are famous as
commanding the highest prices, the London
Zoo having been reported paying high
as $500 for one of these birds.
One never knows when a summons from some
unexpected source will reveal a rare and val
liable bird A notice came one day from the
captain of an Italian steamer that a queer white
bird had flown board the ship while it was
Has
instantly followed up and a magnificent ger
falcon secured, a bird which could not have
been procured by order. regardless Of price.
Many interesting birds come as gifts from
people who have brought parrots, toucans and
other feathered pets home with them after a
visit to the tropics and who find them white eIe-
plants on their hands in the city. Another
source, and very important one, is the collecting
of young birds by the of the department
and the subsequent rearing Of them by hand.
This is most humane, for most of those which
taken live to a good old age in captivity,
while their lives in a wild state would hardly
ever be longer than two three years. Young
birds are much more satisfactory than old ones
which have been trapped. since the former are
wholly without fear of man, while the adults
sometimes require several weeks before they
settle down to contentment under the new con-
ditions.
In the bird department of the New-York 70
ologcal Park especial attention is paid to tanning
the birds, this having been proved to be i'm
Tortant factor in keeping them IN good health
II a bird has no fear of it's keeper the danger
Of broken wings and legs caught IN wires is all
but eliminated, and If such a bird should require
medical treatment 1t can be caught and
handled without fear of adding to its hurt
illness. When the keeper brings the food to the