The Natural History of Cage Birds Part 45

[8] The reason of this union of vegetable and animal food may be easily seen; the bread supplies the seed for the birds of the first cla.s.s, and the milk the insects for those of the second, while the third and fourth here find their mixed food; and thus it ought to agree with all.

Besides, the birds of the first cla.s.s do not confine themselves exclusively to seeds; in their wild state they eat many insects, and some even feed their young entirely with them; this proves that animal food is sometimes useful and beneficial to them.--TRANSLATOR.

[9] If a rather large, flat, and not very deep vessel be used, in which the birds can bathe at their ease, it will make them more healthy and clean.--TRANSLATOR.

[10] White's Selborne, 8vo. edit. 1833.

[11] See Rennie's "HABITS OF BIRDS," p. 13.--TRANSL.

[12] This, though the common opinion, seems incorrect. See Rennie's "HABITS OF BIRDS," p. 4.--TRANSLATOR.

[13] There are varieties in this species: that with the head grey is rare, but when quite white is still more so.--TRANSLATOR.

[14] It is rare in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[15] It is not a native of Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[16] Perhaps from not having been given now and then feathers, the fur and skin of animals, or even beetles, to cleanse the stomach.--TRANSLATOR.

[17] It is doubtful as a native of Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[18] The rook, (_Corvus frugilegus_, Linnaeus,) seems here to be confounded with the carrion crow. I say nothing about this species, as I have never heard of one being tamed or instructed. It is about the size of the carrion crow, and chiefly differs from it in the base of the beak being naked, and having a rough scabrous skin.--TRANSLATOR.

[19] It appears that in its course from Sweden to Algiers it does not range beyond a degree in longitude, and is rarely found in Britain. Few birds of this group, as far as has. .h.i.therto been observed, wander to the right or left during their migration. The roller frequents shady and solitary woods, and its character is well adapted to them.--TRANSLATOR.

[20] I once saw one of these birds drink, after swallowing dry ants'

eggs; it then eat greedily of lettuce and endive. Another, which I kept, liked the outside of lettuces and spinach after having eaten insects, especially beetles, which are very heating. To judge from what I have observed, the roller is by nature wild and solitary; it seldom changes its situation, except to seek its food or to hide itself from strangers.

It is a good thing, whether kept in a cage or let range, always to have a box in its way, in which it may take refuge when frightened; it will not fail to hide itself there, and by this means will not be tempted to beat itself violently, which it does when it cannot fly from the object of its fright. It knows its mistress very well, lets her take it up, comes near her, and sits without any fear on her knees for whole hours without stirring. This is as far as it goes even when tamed. It is neither caressing nor familiar; when frightened it utters harsh cries, softer ones when its food is brought, but "_crag, crag, craag_," at the same time raising its head, is the expression of its joy or triumph.--TRANSLATOR.

[21] It is rarely found in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[22] These young birds like to wash; but it is dangerous for them to have the water too cold, or to let them remain too long in it, as cramp in the feet may be the consequence. In one which we possessed, the accident was more vexatious as the bird was otherwise in good health, having followed the above mentioned diet.--TRANSLATOR.

[23] The natural song is very like the awkward attempts of a country boy with a bad musical ear to whistle the notes of the missel thrush.--TRANSLATOR.

[24] It is not common in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[25] It may be added that it also walks very gracefully.--TRANSLATOR.

[26] It appears that the _Psittacus Ludovicia.n.u.s_, LINNaeUS, _Perruche a tete aurore_, BUFFON, is the same species.

[27] I have, however, seen a woodp.e.c.k.e.r of this species which was reared by a lady, to whom it seemed very much attached. It had learnt of itself to go and return, knocking hard at the window if it was shut out. It was very amusing to see it climbing nimbly over its mistress till it had reached her mouth; it then asked her by light strokes of its beak for the food which she was accustomed to give it; this was generally a little meat. It disappeared one day, without any one's knowing what accident had befallen it.--TRANSLATOR.

[28] A bird of this species, which had been accidentally winged by a sportsman, was kept in a small cage of plain oak wood and wire. During a night and a day that his confinement lasted, his tapping labour was incessant; and after occupying his prison for that short s.p.a.ce, he left the wood-work pierced and worn like worm-eaten timber. His impatience at his situation was excessive; his efforts to escape were unremitted, and displayed much intelligence and cunning. He was fierce, fearlessly familiar, and voracious of the food placed before him. At the close of the second day he sunk under the combined effects of his vexation, a.s.siduity, and voracity. His hammering was peculiarly laborious, for he did not peck as other birds do, but grasping hold with his immense feet, he turned upon them as a pivot, and struck with the whole weight of his body, thus a.s.suming the appearance, with his entire form, of the head of a hammer, or, as birds may sometimes be seen to do on mechanical clocks, made to strike the hour by swinging on a wheel. The Rev. W. T. Bree, of Allesley, says, that having caught a nuthatch in the common brick trap used by boys, he was struck with the singular appearance of its bill, so unlike that of any bird he had ever seen. It was blunt at the end, and presented the appearance of having been truncated in an oblique direction, as if the natural beak had been cut off. He naturally inferred that it had been fairly ground down to about two-thirds of its original length, by the bird's pecking at the bricks, in its efforts to escape from the trap.--TRANSLATOR.

[29] The parrot crossbill is a very different species, but is rare.--TRANSLATOR.

[30] The too great heat has doubtless also something to do with it.--TRANSLATOR.

[31] However difficult this pairing may be, it sometimes succeeds very well. A bullfinch and female canary once produced five young ones, which died on a journey which they could not bear. Their large beak, and the blackish down with which they were covered, showed that they were more like their father than mother.--TRANSLATOR.

[32] I do not recommend the employment of bird organs for instructing birds, because they are rarely accurate, and their notes are harsh and discordant; for bullfinches repeat the sounds exactly as they hear them, whether harsh or false, according to the instrument used. The good and pure whistling of a man of taste is far preferable; the bird repeats it in a soft, flute-like tone. When one cannot whistle well it is better to use a flageolet.--TRANSLATOR.

[33] Mr. Thiem, son of the Mr. Thiem in the text, arrives annually in London in April or May, with birds for sale.--TRANSLATOR.

[34] It is not found in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[35] Those occasionally caught in the South of England may be purchased in London at about 7_s._--TRANSLATOR.

[36] See "Architecture of Birds," page 265.

[37] The want of a bathing place in the narrow cages where these unhappy prisoners are kept is the true cause of this disease.

[38] A good deal of imagination may be supposed to be put forth in the translation of the song of these birds. An Englishman, a Frenchman, or an Italian would discover in it words in their own language which might express very different sounds. We shall not see with less pleasure here details that are entirely omitted in other works on birds. Some will admire, however far it may go, an ear exercised in discovering the shades, niceties, and, in fact, the beauties that delight it, whilst another would be scarcely struck with any difference. Strangers will no longer be surprised at the excessive pa.s.sion these birds excite where they are studied with so much care. In England they are very little prized, and but seldom kept.--_Translator._

[39] Literally, "to go to the wine;" p.r.o.nounced _vine-gay_.--TRANSLATOR.

[40] Ruhl is a large manufacturing village in Thuringia, the inhabitants of which, mostly cutlers, have such a pa.s.sion for chaffinches that some have gone ninety miles from home to take with bird-lime one of these birds distinguished by its song, and have given one of their cows for a fine songster; from which has arisen their common expression, _such a chaffinch is worth a cow_. A common workman will give a _louis d'or_ (sixteen shillings) for a chaffinch he admires, and willingly live on bread and water to gain the money. An amateur cannot hear one that sings in a superior style _the double trill of the Hartz_ without being in an ecstasy. I have heard them say that one which sings this melody perfectly certainly can converse, from its p.r.o.nouncing the syllables so distinctly.--AUTHOR.

[41] Langsfeld, where this song was first discovered, is a large town in the district of Fulda, situated a short distance from the Werra, which at Munden takes the name of Weser, after its junction with the Fulda.--AUTHOR.

[42] It is only eight years since this song was accidentally produced. A shoemaker of Iambach had given a chaffinch that sung the double trill five young scholars, one of which struck out for itself this peculiar warbling. From this others were taught, so that amateurs may have the pleasure of hearing at home a song that is now in fashion, and pleases many amateurs.

[43] The notes of the wild chaffinches in this country are finer than any cage ones I have heard in Germany.--TRANSLATOR.

[44] The destruction of the sparrows has been so great an evil in the countries where the government had ordered it, that it has been found necessary to rescind the order. The injury they do to the corn is something certainly, but it may be exaggerated, besides, ought not these useful creatures to be paid?--TRANSLATOR.

[45] It is known from experience that winter rape seed, which is not hurtful to them in a wild state, will soon kill them if they are fed on it in the house.--AUTHOR.

[46] We read in Buffon, that the Goldfinch feeds its young with caterpillars; this is not natural to the species, since we find farther on, that the parent birds disgorge the food into the crop of their little ones, and do not merely place it in the beak as those birds do that feed their young on caterpillars and other insects.--TRANSLATOR.

[47] This is a mistake. See Architecture of Birds, p. 268.

[48] After having shown the skill and docility of the goldfinch, we cannot end our praise of the bird better than by giving an instance of his attachment. Mad. ---- had one that never saw her go out without making every effort in his power to quit his cage and follow her, and welcomed her return with every mark of extreme delight; as soon as she approached, a thousand little actions showed his pleasure and satisfaction: if she presented her finger, he caressed it a long time, uttering a low joyous murmur. This attachment was so exclusive that if his mistress, to prove it, subst.i.tuted another person's finger for her own, he would peck it sharply, whilst one of his mistress's, placed between two of this person's, would be immediately distinguished, and caressed accordingly.--TRANSLATOR.

[49] It only comes to England during winter.--TRANSLATOR.

[50] It is not so often of epilepsy, and fat, that male birds die, as for the want of pairing. Perhaps this may be increased, thoughtlessly, by too heating and too succulent food. However this may be, if a male that has died thus in spring be dissected, its reproductive organs will be found exceedingly swelled. It can only be preserved by giving at the time refreshing and moderate food. Boiled bread and milk is very useful.--TRANSLATOR.

[51] They are not natives of Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[52] They are not natives of Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[53] I have observed, says Adanson, that the canary which becomes white in France is, at Teneriffe, of a grey, almost as dark as that of the linnet.--AUTHOR.

[54] It is a mistaken idea that the difference of colour in canaries depends on the difference of food. The wild birds vary much more than the domestic, yet their food is more uniform. The being domesticated, the want of exercise and natural food united, may occasion an alteration in the colours of the plumage. My birds have only very simple food, and yet they are not the less of various colours.--AUTHOR.

[55] This practice is not according to nature, which we can rarely oppose without inconvenience. "This plan causes the mother a greater loss of heat, and burdens her at once with five or six little ones, which coming together, disturb rather than please her; whilst in seeing them hatched successively one after the other, her pleasure is increased and supports her strength and courage. Very intelligent bird-fanciers a.s.sure us, that by not removing the eggs from the female, and leaving them to be hatched in succession, they have always succeeded better than when subst.i.tuting ivory eggs." _Buffon._--TRANSLATOR.