The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-05-12
BY Enos A. Mills

ionslly played in front OF my window
Noticing this, placed food for them
by their playground and In a sho, ,
time they came daily TO feed ana TO
play for me. Lively plays they had /.
Often they raced in small circles, In
the midst of this circilng one would
stop and stand erect for a moment and
then circle while the other stood +.
They counter marched and counter
leaped; in this leaping they passed
midway in the air. With ell possible
speed they leaped back and forth,
each apparently trying to alight in
the spot from which the Other leaped
and then to wheel and instantly leap
back. Sometimes one fooled the 9TH
er by pretending to leap withod. do
ing SO. Following a turn Of this
kind they jumped high, almost
straight up, and as they faced or ne.
in mid air each tried 20 grab or to
push the other. They danced queer
ly, slowly rotating; they vent thru
a kind of stationary gallon, occas.
ionally rising on hind legs to advance
stiffly two or three steps.
One day they spied ire Watching
through the window. For nearly half
a minute they froze and watched me.
AS did not move they presently
went on with their play. After this
we became better acquainted. I stood
outside to watch them. 1T first far
of, then closer, and finally within o.
few yards. Toward the close or
winter they came regularly into my
cabin and ate of the floor They de-
clined to be touched, but this too
could have been accomplished with
a little longer acquaintance. Tut
spring days came and they won't on
into the willows.
After giving years of encourage
ment, succeeded in getting tie
weary Bighorn or mountain sLeeo to
feed play and at last to lie down close
to my cabin. Finally, during deep
snow, I took photograph Of TIE Lead
er Of the flock at Introductory near.
ness. OF course this close picture
was secured through the aid Of deep
snow and the help which came from
hunger and the friendship formerly
shown. Anyone can make friends
with birds and animals. This Is made
much easier II all the people in the
neighborhood are friendly to wild
folks.
Most birds and animals appear to
desire human society. Birds leave
the seclusion of the forest to build
by the roadside where people pass.
Other kinds Of little feathered folk
have deserted old nesting scenes and
now nest by human homes. Robins,
wrens, and bluebirds confidingly raise
their families in the scene where the
children romp and play.
Birds may come for better food OPP
and increased safety from
enemies, but It is also plain that many
birds come chiefly to satisfy their
desire for human society 1t, has Of
ten been demonstrated that shy, well
fed birds and animals are hoping and
waiting for friendly advances on our
part. Kindness and food VIII make
most wild folks our friends. Wild
neighbors are glad of the opportun-
ity to call on us whether we break
bread or not. They are also glad to
have friendly calls returned.
Birds and animals have individual
ity. A recognition Of this fact Will
make acquaintance with Wild life
more intimate. Food, kindness, also
speaking to animals in the universal
language, kind tones, are all means
of promoting acquaintance but the
recognition OF individuality means in
innate understanding.
Most wild life is wild from neces-
sity and not from desire. In the past
only the wary ESCAPED with their lives
al Amt