The Audubon Societies 387 



light them, we thought he might get burned, so, when he flew do\\Ti, Mother 

 laid her hand on him and he did not make any fuss. We then opened the door 

 and Mother opened her hand. He flew to a small walnut tree on the north- 

 western side of our lawn, and we did not see him any more. — Frances Red- 

 field Hallinan (age, 10 years.), Washington, D. C. 



[This is the right way to treat birds that fly into our dwellings. It was given its 

 liberty and no attempt was made to cage it or to handle it. — A. A. .\.] 



A PET MAGPIE 



We lived in Wasco County, Ore., for three years, and m\- two brothers and 

 I had a few experiences with birds there. We are all lovers of nature and espe- 

 cially of birds. 



When we first got 'Mag,' the Magpie, he had only a few feathers. We found 

 him two miles from where we lived and carried him in one of our hats for about 

 a mile, and then transferred him to a Crow's nest to carry him the rest of the 

 way home. We kept him in this until he was old enough to sit on a perch. 



Whenever he was hungry he would open his mouth, and we fed him worms, 

 grasshoppers, and curd cheese. He also liked bread and milk. When he was 

 old enough to follow us around, he would come to us for his food, and we would 

 dig up worms for him, which he would pick up and swallow. 



We started talking to him when he could just sit on a perch, always saying 

 the same thing, so that he might learn to talk. About the time he was learning 

 to eat by himself, he began to try to talk. He kept improving until, within the 

 next month, he learned to whistle and call the dog, to say "Hello Mag," "Pretty 

 Mag," "Nice Mag," and several other things. He also learned to laugh like a 

 person, and it was a very merr\' laugh. He talked best when strangers were 

 around, and he liked to hop on their feet and peck their shoes. Most of the 

 little neighbor children were afraid of him, and he seemed to know it, for when- 

 ever they came around our place, he delighted in chasing them. When he called 

 the dog, the dog would come and look puzzled. 



At night 'Mag' slept in a shed where there was a ladder against the wall. 

 One morning we found him in a pitiful condition, with his head badly crushed 

 and swollen. The ladder had fallen down, and we supjwsed it had hit him. 

 He could hardly make a sound and could eat only bread and milk. He lived but 

 a few days after he was hurt. We kept his most beautiful tail feathers as a 

 remembrance of our dear pet. — Oliver Crandall (age ib years). Toppcnish, 

 Wash. 



[Magpies, Crows, and Jays make amusing pets if they are taken young and properly 

 cared for, and many of them learn to talk, as did Oliver's. There is a common belief 

 that their tongues must be s|)lit before they will learn to talk, but this practice is as cruel 

 as it is unnecessary, for all that is required is a little patience in teaching them. Some 

 learn much more quickly ili.m others.— ,\. .\. .\.l 



