The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-03
Spike Not Only Dances, but
Talks and Sings, Too, in
Chicken Way.
Mule Linnets and Japanese
Nightingale Among Mrs. Pit.
mans Other, Curiosities.
BY ADELINE STANLEY cARRIcK.

BY ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.
d ECAUSE she has always loved
id birds of all sorts. canaries in par
~ticular, Mrs. Alma Pittman, of
567 Orange street, has gone into the
business. Her little bird store in NORTH
Fifteenth street is the only one of its
kind run by a m
After examining the array of birds,
goldfish in bowls, packages of seed and
growing plants In the window of the
little shop, you open the door and are
almost deafened by the music that
greets you. Canaries of all breeds and
colors are trying t o out-pipe each
other a couple of parrots threaten all
sorts of things in a mixture of Spanish,
English and native parrotese. Occa-
sionally you catch the pure. sweet
notes of the Japanese nightingale, and
the answering whistle of his mate.
There are a lot of smaller sounds, and
last. but by nc means least, are the
cultural conversational tones of
Spike as tame a rooster as I've
ever had the pleasure of meeting.
: In the midst of these, smiling and I'M
disturbed by the conglomeration of
sound. stands the little proprietress,
eager to tell you all about her pets, and
how she came to make money through
them. When she was a little girl she
lived in the country, she'll explain, and
there she used to love to go out in the
woods and listen to the little feathered
folk, getting as near them as possible.
Later she owned a couple of canaries,
and reveled in the opportunity to study
birds at close range. Her collection
grew and grew. gradually crowding her
Orange street home until she thought
of opening a little store and making
her hobby worth while from a financial
standpoint.
Waltz with Rooster.
Now, Pm in the business for all that
it is WORTH" she assured me the other
day, land I'm going to make 1t pay.
In a couple of weeks I'm going to
handle snakes-just a few for the win
dow-and perhaps a monkey. You see
I've things beside canaries. Here are
some white MICE" she picked up a
basket, and over there are pure white
rabbits. Ny parrots are my very good
friends. and I'm just in the expert
mental stage with goldfish, though
I've had splendid luck"
She gave a contented sigh as she
glanced about. And we mustn't for
get old Spike" and she pointed to the
yellow rooster, who, comb in air, was
discussing questions of moment with
her little granddaughter.
Don't you talk back to me-" scolded
the little girl.
"G-r-r-r-ch-tck-tck-gr.tk,' answered
Spike, trying to walk away.
The %youngster picked him up. thine
for your ride" said she, and forthwith
dumped him into her doll go-cart,
where he sat beautifully while she rode
him up and down. He's a bright roos-
ter, is Spike.
Make him waltz" suggested Mrs.
Pittman.
Spikes ride ended abruptly. Taking
a firm hold on each wing the little girl
wialtzed him round and round, singing
"Harrigan" to a tempo very much her
own. The fact that "Harrigan' isn't
exactly a waltz tune bothered neither.
Spike clucked his own accompaniment.
1t grieved me to think I vas the only
outside spectator at this sure-enough
little circus. When the dance was An
ished, instead of bowling to his partner
he scudded Indignantly into a distant
corner, where he proceeded to preen his
ruff1ed pluInage. II
some Mute Birds.
"Pick him up" said the little girl to
me. l didn't like the idea, but she in
sisted, sc over l marched to grab him
gingerly round The waist, If a rooster
Eiay be said to have a waist, expecting
a sharp peck for my trouble. But
Spike didn't care. The world looked
as good from my arms as from any,
where. It's a great thing to be con-
tented in this world.
Mrs. Pittman called my at ention to
o beautiful bird, about the size OF a
robin, only more slender. and exquisite
ly colored.
Its an Australian ~paroquet or love
bird, said she. II sold its mate the
other day. They're generally sold in
pairs, and are always billing and
scrapping and making up again. When
mates are separated they grieve them
selves to death. No divorces in their
families Mrs. Pittman added merrily.
when | began to take a deeper in
terest in birds I studied all I could
about them. I've got SO ] can tell just
exactly what a bird is, even when he's
a mixture. This little chap" and she
pointed to a tiny one, all yellows and
browns. lis a linnet mule, q cross be-
tween a linnet n a canary And this
is a finch mule, and this is a fancy
English lizard canary" Thus she con-
tinued, pointing to 6ne various cages
and describing their inmates.
DO you know" she said suddenly.
birds. even little canaries. have as
distinct Municipalities as have human
beings. You'll fin just as many char
acteristics. Some Of the birds are as
bright and energetic as good house,
wives, while Others are too lazy to keep
themselves clean. Why, there Is al
most as much difference in>their faces
as in yours and mine. ] can tell them
all apart. Would you believe it?v
I glanced at all Of the little ~triilers.
n rad to admit that they all looked
alike to Jnc Only the parrots looked
different.