98 Birds I Have Kept. 



"This bird", says Bechstein, of whom it seems to have 

 been a favourite, "becomes wonderfully familiar in the house; 

 as docile and cunning as a dog, he is always gay, wakeful, 

 soon knows all the inhabitants of the house, remarks their 

 motions and air, and adapts himself to their humours. In 

 his solemn tottering step, he appears to go stupidly forward; 

 but nothing escapes his eye. He learns to pronounce words 

 without having his tongue cut, which proves the uselessness 

 of this cruel operation. He repeats correctly the airs which 

 are taught him, as does also the female, imitates the cries 

 of men and animals, and the songs of all the birds in the 

 room with him. Not only are the young susceptible of these 

 instructions, the oldest even show the most astonishing 

 docility." 



Perhaps I did not persevere long enough in my endeavours 

 to tame the individual an accident put temporarily into my 

 possession; and very likely I may make another attempt. 



"The Starling is a very hardy bird, and will live", says 

 the same authority, "for a number of years in the house." 

 It sliould, however, be always provided in its cage with a sod 

 of grass to dig in; and if a few worms are hidden underneath 

 it, the bird will derive much benefit and enjoyment from its 

 attempts to root them out of their concealment. Without this 

 precaution the beak of all the Starlings, foreign, as well as 

 British, is apt to become long and deformed. The bottom of 

 the cage must be covered with a thich layer of coarse sand 

 in order to keep the claws of the feet from getting too long. 



