on my experience with British birds. 333


the wonders of Nature. All this I did not understand till I took up

the hobby, and for that reason alone I would advise all who can to

keep a few birds.


The first bird I ever had was a greenfinch. This bird became

so tame that he would follow me from room to room and fly on my

shoulder, then from picture to picture, and when a saucer of water

was placed on the table would soon be down and have a bath, then

back on the pictures again and finish his toilet.


Next bird I had was a linnet. This bird became very tame

also; he would fly on a boot whilst I was repairing it and take a

seed from my tongue, then fly back on to the shop clock and sing

away ; also, when my wife washed the children he would tly on edge

of bath and dip his little head in and have a little bath by throwing

the water over himself, needless to say to the delight of the children

and us all.


Next bird I had was a thrush. This I also tamed to sit on

my finger, and at night when I and my wife were having supper he

would fly from my shoulder to hers and share our meal, then a fly

round on the pictures. A stray cat finished this lovely songster’s

career, by clawing him through the cage bars, mauling him so much

that he died next day.


I tried to procure another nest the following year, but arrived

on holiday in Bishop Stortford too late in the season, and ail I could

find was a nest with two Blackbirds. These I took home and

reared ; one I sold, the other I kept and trained to whistle four

tunes, viz. : “ If you want to know the time ask a Policeman,”

chorus of “ The Old Folks at Home,” “ Are you Working,” and a little

dancing ditty.


All these he would whistle to me at any time and never kept

me waiting more than two minutes morning, noon, or night; even

at 12 midnight he has obliged me, no matter how many strangers

near.


Th ree photos of this bird were taken by a ‘ Daily Sketch ’

representative and were reproduced in that journal, June 11th, 1912.


I foolishly sold him for £8 and regretted it ever since, for I

have failed to train another since then.


Last year I reared several Blackies; two of them had very



