BECREATIVE SCIENCE. 



805 



the secret of the cruel man who made well- 

 stored bird-cages so hard to enter. If a piece 

 of string or tape happen to be tied on or near 

 the door, the persevering little creature will 

 endeavour to untie it, with the idea that it is 

 that which prevents its entrance. A siskin 

 might be more easily taught to break into a 

 cage, than to break out of it ; because, if its 

 larder is well supplied within, it has no 

 motive to the commission of the converse of 

 burglary. Lesson 5 : Make your hivdifly from 

 its cage to alight on your hand, wherever you 

 may be. After this elementary course of in- 

 struction, your siskin will be ready for what- 

 ever branches of education you may destine 

 his future career to embrace. 



The dragging of chariots and the drawing 

 of water, which appear so wonderful, may 

 also be taught without unkindness. The 

 feats are nothing more than an easy applica- 

 tion of the pupil's natural address and clever- 

 ness. The siskin is born (or hatched) a 

 mountebank, a posture-master, a fearless 

 acrobat, a clown full of whim and humour. 

 Of its own accord it likes to do things in a 

 way that would be difficult for many other 

 birds, and impossible for vulgar cocks and 

 hens. Eor instance, it will drink in a per- 

 pendicular position, with its head downwards, 

 and hanging by its legs. It will sleep cling- 

 ing uncomfortably to the wires, instead of 

 sitting on a convenient perch. It will run 

 along the sides and top of its cage, like a fly 

 upon a wall or a ceiling. Throwing somersets 

 is with it a favourite amusement. Its feet 

 are also hands, which it utilizes, if not to the 

 extent, at least after the manner of parrots. 

 It eats suspended beneath a branch as easily 

 as upon the branch. It has no dislike to 

 swinging itself on an ear of millet at the 

 end of a string ; if you give it the chance, it 

 will hold to a perch with one foot, while it 

 steadies and retains the ear of millet with 

 the other. Talents such as these only need 

 a direction to be given to them. 



Therefore, mix no hempseed with your 



bird's daily food of canaryseed and millet, 

 but place the cart to be dragged, laden with 

 hempseed, on &Jiat surface, outside the cage, 

 where the bird can reach it by putting its 

 head through a hole in the wirework, such as 

 is usually left for drinking. When he has 

 eaten a few grains in this way, put the cart 

 out of his reach, but with a bit of string 

 fastened to it, the end of which string is in 

 the cage. As his appetite for hempseed is 

 sharpened, he will not be long in finding out 

 that by pulling the string with his bill, he 

 can draw the cart to him and enjoy its con- 

 tents. He may be made to repeat this ma- 

 noeuvre for a day or two, when the next step 

 in his training may be taken by placing the 

 cart on an inclined plane. Blowing from him. 

 Of course, as fast as he draws the cart 

 towards him, it will run back again by its 

 own weight. After a few tantalizing dis- 

 appointments, he will adopt the expedient of 

 holding down the string with his foot, while 

 he either draws the cart still nearer, or regales 

 himself with the earnings of his ingenuity. 

 By the same proceeding, he may be taught 

 to draw water from a reservoir, by means of 

 a small bucket ; but, to avoid the possibility 

 of death from thirst through any derange- 

 ment of the apparatus, it is more humane to 

 leave the necessaries of life always within 

 reach, without having to be worked for. 



Siskins are fond of splashing themselves 

 with water, and should be allowed to do so 

 twice a week at least, in some shallow, open 

 dish. 



As in the linnet the bill assumes a 

 bluish tinge, so in the siskin it becomes 

 tipped with deeper black on the upper man- 

 dible, at the approach of the singing season. 

 If a pair, male and female, be kept in the 

 same cage, they should be allowed to select 

 their own mates, otherwise, the ill-assorted 

 couple may terminate their union by a deadly 



quarrel. 



E. S. Dixoif. 



D D 



ai 



