DESTRUCTION AND PROTECTION 549 
sufficient water and a warm dust bath. These two 
things, he believes, attach the birds strongly to a hom- 
ing place. His birds were at liberty during the day. 
He says: 
“The little fellows have an affinity for brush patches, 
corn, asparagus beds, or any sort of natural cover, 
like that of ducks for water. Instead of proving the 
nuisance that I at first feared, this affinity may be 
turned to excellent account if properly indulged and 
arranged for. I always keep a little brush-pile, with an 
armful of hay or freshly cut weeds thrown over it, 
in the home cage. This also attracts them to the 
place. If they have located in a clump of bushes or 
a weed patch, they are safe for the day. Should a 
thunder storm come up, and the birds are as tame as 
they should be, they can be whistled home, or an insect 
net be put over the entire cluster and they can be car- 
ried into the brooder. When they began to fly in the 
second week, I expected to be obliged to clip their 
wings. I did not do this, however, and, as the sequel 
proved, their ability to fly is a great advantage in 
rearing them. Within the past few days a wind storm 
opened one of my cages containing adult and young 
birds. Though able to fly for miles, I drove them 
back into the cage as easily as if they had been a flock 
of little chickens. During the summer the flocks 
would range out afoot to feed and fly home. In feed- 
ing the birds I used from the first a low whistle, in 
imitation of the feeding note of the chicks themselves. 
On coming home at noon or night the flock might be 
