Correspondence. ;29 



Correspondence. 



FOR THE UTMOST HAPPINESS OF CAGED BIRDS. 



SiK,— Birds are endowed with superubuiidant energy* vvhieli 

 finds expression in Hyiiiy, Hitting, swimming, diving, wading, 

 walking, liopping, perching, cliiul)ing, creeping, mimicking, singing, 

 or croaking. Those tJiat liave been bred in captivity for generations 

 may, in course of time, lose most of the original characteristics of 

 tlieir species, and acquire otliers possibly better suited to confinement. 

 Fledgelings taken from the nest and made pets of, also become aiti- 

 ficial, but pent-up inheient energy must find i.t.eianee. The Canary 

 trolls songs unknown to its progenitors; the Par'rot, Mynah and 

 Magpie imitate human speech; the Bullfinch whistles human music; 

 and the Parroquet brandishes a torch or fires a cannon. In these 

 instances confinement has produced denaturalization, generally to the 

 extent of hatred of its own species. Conversely, no alienation would 

 result without close confinement. 



I do not ignore the numerous examples where the natural 

 song' is retained by prisoners either taken from the nest, or captured 

 when wild. That is evidence of, at least, a fleeting' happiness. 

 Instinct is irrepressible, and the enei-gy of a captive, unless mis- 

 directed, protests against the assumption that ' turn whereso'er it 

 may by night or day the things which it hath seen it now can see 

 no more." 



At the Zoo one finds of course, instances, where the utmost 

 happiness hcis resultiod from knowledge of the birds' proclivities, as 

 well as cases of apparent misery, arising, presumably, from lack of 

 knowledge— thus even with unlimited space the problem is difficult, 

 and the question is, whether it can be solved by those who must 

 keep pets in cages, or not at all. 



With confessedly limited experience, I postulate that Lories, 

 being constitutionally uxorious, should never be left unmated; that 

 they should have ample facilities for climbing and playing;, aud 

 that wlienever possible their cage should be placed in sunshine. 

 Their self-reliance and self -absorption make them pretty well in- 

 different to other conditions. 



Celibacy is less lepugnant to the Indian Parroquet, but, unless 

 denaturalised, he likes company of his own species; that of others 

 ha cannot endure. He de^ighti in bathing, and pines for occupation. 

 He is jessentLally a climbe.-, and m,u.t have nuts to crack, or dry wood 

 to chew. Ana above all, he appreciates a little change of scene, 

 and the alternative of a perch. If he must be kept confined to a 

 cage, the ideal form would be cylindrical, but from four to six feet 

 high. 



Entirely otherwise are the habits of the long-tailed Austra- 



*There are nevertheless species whose energy does not greatly 

 exceed their need.— £d. 



