jBtote^ from Jftelti anti ^tutip 



An Accomplished House Sparrow 



In June, six or seven years ago, my 

 daughters found in the courtyard of our 

 home, a young House or English Spar- 

 row who had evidently fallen from the 

 nest, and had broken its leg in the fall. 

 They took it in and cared for it, binding 

 up the injured limb and feeding it as 

 experience with other birds of the same 

 family had taught them to do. Happily, 

 the bird recovered, and in a short time 

 became quite a pet of the household. 



At that time we had two Canary Birds, 

 both beautiful singers, and in almost 

 constant song. The Sparrow was in the 

 same room with them, and very soon 

 (making use of its imitative power, 

 which we have observed is a strong 

 characteristic of the Sparrow) acquired 

 the full and complete song of the Cana- 

 ries. We followed with much pleasure 

 the unfolding of his musical ability, 

 which was gradual, and found that he 

 had surpassed his teachers, producing 

 melodies much richer and stronger, as 

 all who had the pleasure of listening to 

 him freely admitted. 



The bird retained his song to the last, 

 although as age came upon him, as with 

 all other pet birds, his singing was less 

 and less frequent till he passed away, 

 some few months ago. Besides imitating 

 the song of the Canary, he acquired the 

 song of a bird in our collection known 

 as the ' Strawberry Finch, ' which he 

 gave perfectly. His plumage was greatly 

 improved by his confinement and the 

 very great care given him, so much so, 

 that one almost doubted his being an 

 English Sparrow till convinced upon closer 

 examination. 



We have had a large experience with 

 these birds ; they become very affection- 

 ate with petting, and show a wonderful 

 degree of intelligence. 



I would further say that our Sparrow 

 had all the notes common to the English 



Sparrow, beside his acquired accomplish- 

 ments, and there was sadness in our home 

 when his little life went out. — John L. 

 RovAEL, A'j-oo/;/y//, .V. )'. 



A Nut-hatching Nuthatch 



On October 14, 1898, while on a short 

 visit to my old home, at New Baltimore, 

 New York, I sat down near a clump of 

 trees and shrubs to enjoy the bird-life so 

 abundant there. 



ACORN WEDGED IN BARK BY WHITE-BREASTED 



NUTHATCH 



Photograplied from Nature, by H B. Soiithwick 



Here I saw the Chickadee carefully 

 examining the fruit-heads of the smooth 

 sumach, and twice take from them a mass 

 of spider-web ; then, flying to a limb, 

 dissect it and obtain from it the mass of 

 young or eggs. It was with difficulty that 

 the food was disentangled from the silk, 

 and I found on examination that much of 

 it bad been so crushed, that it was im- 

 possible to determine whether the web 

 contained eggs or young. 



While thus engaged, I saw a White- 

 breasted Ni thatch, with something in its 



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