Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22
HE CAGES ABE CLEANED Duly.

ments is built up in the hold of tho
ship. and here they live a life that has
something of monotony in 1t, but when
considered from the standpoint OF life
confinement in a cage is not an uEinter-
esting experience for a bird to have
passed through. There is q world of bird
company and opportunity for the inter
change of story and song in the semi
darkness. rocked by the rolling OF the
ship. Every day there is a taking out of
each tier of seven and rearrange-
ment of the pyramid of cages and ro-
tatiOn of the desirable berths on the
outside. This is done in order that eachN
bird may have its cabin made up anew
and that ii may be given the best Of
fare and the cleanest of water for the
regulations require this treatment. and
it is further necessary to the we'll being
of the birds. which represent the in
vestment of much capital.
Finally. the ship is tied up at the pier
of the new land and the Decentralization
is begun. The canyases are readjusted.
and the great derrcks swing tine imm-
grants ashore in lots of five hundred.
They are carefully inspected by the agents
of the biological survey. who are main
tanned for that purpose at such ports OF
entry as New York. Philadelphia New
Orleans and San Francisco. At lesser
ports the customs officials are instructed
as to the kinds Of birds that are placed
under the ban. and perform the duties of
bird inspector.
After admission the birds are usually
hurried away TO the adjustment Of
some wholesale bird dealer. who is the
direct importer. Here they are arranged
in high tiers OF cages around many walls
which form a bird tenement, where the
congestion is as great as that of the hu-
man new arrivals on the East Side. The
importer is an expert in the care of the
birds and also in grading them as to
value. and the new arrivals are all put
through their PAGES and classified as to
grade and price. One of the tests among
the canaries is that Of determining what
| birds NAV he sold AS guaranteed singers
The tester sits for hours in room walled
with cages and listens for the sound Of
music from the little songsters. When
! the inhabitant of any cage has shown
| its ability to sing its box is chaIked off,
| and IL Is eventually removed and placed
| in the guaranteed class.
Those that fail to sing may be sold
without the guarantee. may be put
through course of training to develop
the vocal accomplishment. This latter
process consists of placing among them
some canary that is prodigious singer
and with a voice of the desired quality.
From hearing this bird sing the others
will finally begin modestly. and in the
end develop the accomplishment.
The training of parrots has been greatly
aided by the Introduction of the phono-
graph, the instrument now being used
to repeat given phrase for hours each
day to a roomful of the noisy croakers
until they have mastered IT, The va
rious kinds of birds require various
methods of training. and bird experts
develop specialties and win fame in their
exclusive fields for their accomplishments
Finally. the whole immigration of 400 OoO
is disposed of and distributed through
cut the country. and the cycle is begun
for another year that will bring some
thing to the ltilitarian who raises practi-
cal fowls for the market. and more to
the sportsman who seeks game to shoot
The greatest gain. however comes to the
lovers of pets. who. since the time when
the AZtecS of America caught the multi
colored birds of the tropics for the King
Montezuma. the generals of Alexander
the Great brought home the parakeet
from India. or the bulbuls piped i'm the
hanging gardens of Babylon have sought
out the sweetest of singers and the most
brilliant of plumage among the feathered
things and brought them as a touch of
the outside world to brighten gloomy
uomlciie or set man an example of cheer.
fIIl Ind.