The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-29
COURTS OWL WITH
 X BIG BASS VOL
SPENCER ALSA CHARMS OTHER BIRDS WITH JEWsHARP AND VI ol1N-TRlcKs OF BIRD ENTHu- SIAST.

Northam. Vt.-(Special to the New fork world. IA Boston bird enthusiast, HOW
 ard Spencer, who has been spenoins .ne
 y,,i and summer here, has successlully
 aa,nonstrated that humming-birds ana
 oths, ,namhers of the feathered family
 can be hypnotized by music or 50 'hoi
 oughly charmed as to make tnegi us'eiiS
 obliyious to danger Mr. spencer ho"
 daily entertains two ruby-throateo nun
 ming birds and their young, song spar
 row and a pair of nuthatcnes.
 When MT. Spencer came nere he hrougbt with him a violin and a jews
 born to he used in his experiments lie tr,ad inc violin first, but with small re-
 suIts until he struck upon weiro
 strain written in the minor. Just With ont his window was posy ped re ouented by the ruby throats, ana Wheh they heard the strains of the nddie they ceased galnerng honey and percneo on the window sill.
 The pair had nest in an apple tree not far from the house. and when the
 young could fly they took them 10 ths
 sill to enjoy the concerts. Up 10 tnls
 time they had never ventured in the room. but now, apparently sahsned that
 the player meant them no harm, they
 entered and buzzed about as though r1ley
 owned the place. Eventually the Whoio
 family became so tame that they woulu
 perch on MT. Spencer's shoulders until the concert was over
 The iewsharp seemed to appear strongly to the song -sparrows. and they soon joined the humming birds. The twanging affected them pleasantly, Tor they would listen intent as long as MT.
 Spencer played. Now and then they broke forth In song and their enorts to immediate the sounds made py the
 instruments were at times highly luori- crous.
 Mir Spencer had the most dinlcuity with the nuthatchcs These D1rds De- long to the titmouse family. and collect a living by pecking insects from the bark | of trees They paid no attention 10 the violin or jewsharp, but when the piro 1 fancier beat gently on tamborlne they were instantly interested. On the oay | that MT Spencer tried the experiment ne l inveigled six into his room, where they sat about on the backs of chairs. with l their small heads cooked, and listened to | the humping with great attention. l 'All this goes to show that birds have streak of human in them," said MT Spencer They like music as well as 1 we do, but they are more particular | They won't stand for all instruments, l for each has his own favorlte, ana the l slightest dscord will cause them untold i, distress Whenever l strike the wrong l note on the violin the humming birds
 futter in protest, but once l am back on the right key they are as contented I as can be.
 l Last summer I had great sport with barn owl. I got so could initiate nis 1 voice to perfection on bass viol, and | the ddoes he cut up were astonishing l His wife had been shot early in the sea- 1 son and he was left to hatch out the eggs. It was a pretty big undertaking l but he managed it. and then had real trials and trbulations bringing up his motherless family.
 Tt was while he was rasing the youngsters that I tried the experiment ] with the base viol. Evidently the old ! father owl thought his departed mate
 or a grass widow was signing words oi
 love to him, for he sat Up daytimes {: | court that viol. He hooted in his softes | and most dulcet tones, preened his l feathers after the most approved fashion 1 and cayorted about from tree to tree
 wondering why the lad didn't come out of her violin-tree and show herself. He | actually lost so much flesh pining tha, | l quit out of sheer charity