32 



parasites, the berry box was placed in a larger box, which was 

 filled to about one-half the height of the smaller box with dry 

 sand and kept lice proof and antiseptic by a mixture of insect 

 powder and powdered bichloride of mercury. 



As soon as the wax-wings were able to support themselves on 

 their wings, which was August 20, they were taken from the 

 nest and placed in a large, shallow box, with perches, and with- 

 out cover. That night two of them died, for some unknown 

 reason. The others, however, continued to be fed the same as 

 usual and seemed to be contented in their coverless box, not even 

 attempting to move much from perch to perch until the second 

 day. On the third day they were left alone most of the time, 

 being fed by hand only twice ; while on August 23 they were left 

 to care for themselves. 



Although young birds will sooner or later learn to prune 

 their feathers, the habit is very easily taught by rolling a bit 

 of cotton loosely on a stick and rubbing it over the body in such 

 a way that the fibres will catch on the rough edges of the feathers. 

 In this manner the young birds were taught to make attempts 

 at pruning when but six days old. 



Being always fed in silence, they came to regard most sounds 

 as suspicious. At a whistle or peep, they would down the crest 

 feathers and listen. Yet thej^ had no fear in the real sense. 

 Strange objects seemed to aifect them but little, and they could 

 be carried anywhere, perched on a finger. If loose in the room, 

 they would fiy towards any person that came in. The instinct 

 of fear was not developed so long as they were kept in the house, 

 and they would even allow petting and handling with indiffer- 

 ence. But that fear was present, though latent, was shown 

 after the birds had been placed in a large cage and hung in a 

 tree in the orchard; when, inside of a week, they were as wild 

 as any bird, becoming excited whenever anyone came near. 



One other strong innate instinct is that of migration, this 

 being the most difficult period through which to keep a young 

 bird, and I have always found it best to liberate them before 

 this time if I did not want them to die in the cage. As soon 

 as the crisp days of fall set in, the bird feels a new emotion. A 

 state of restlessness seizes it, and it wants to get away. Now for 

 the first time it feels the limitations of the cage and longs for the 

 wide expanse. Nothing will content it, and as the days grow 

 shorter it pines away, eating less and less, gradually losing its 

 spirit and activity, until fate steps in and cuts the cord. 



