240 Wild Birds 



which show the Warbler sharply eying an insect and prepared 

 to seize it when held a few inches away. It would have been 

 an easy matter to take her in the hand, though possibly not 

 without injury to the young. Their early flight from the nest 

 cut short any further experiments, but what could not have 

 been done with a bird who had become so tame and confiding 

 in the course of a few days ? 



The foregoing account does not necessarily imply that a 

 wild bird can be induced to remain docile in the presence of man 

 for any great length of time while still enjoying the freedom of 

 its wild life. If the lesson learned is to be a permanent acquisi- 

 tion, it must be often repeated, and no other teachers allowed 

 to interfere. To effect this the animal must, as a rule, be placed 

 under restraint or in a cage, where its experiences are more uni- 

 form, more limited, and under perfect control. 



In free life a new habit must struggle with other competitors 

 and is liable to be suppressed quickly. However, I think it has 

 been clearly shown that in the beginnings of the taming process 

 which have been illustrated, where no physical restraint is used, 

 the sense of fear must be combated by a stronger and contrary 

 impulse, such as hunger or the parental instincts, which will 

 lead the bird to undergo new experiences, and finally to adopt 

 new habits. 



That many birds become tame in a state of nature is well 

 known and the subject is full of interest. The Pine Grosbeak is 

 as good an illustration of the fact as may be found in this part of 

 the world. I remember meeting a flock of these plump, stalwart- 

 looking birds in a grove of sapling pines on the last day of 

 February. The woods on every side were hoary with snow 

 which had been falling for hours. When a young pine drooping 

 under its weight of snow suddenly blossomed with a bright com- 

 pany of these birds, you might travel far to find a more attractive 

 winter picture. A bird would sometimes drop on a branch, and 

 settle down as if going to sleep. Then suddenly aroused by the 

 desire for food he would sidle to the end of the bough, pick out 

 the terminal or largest bud, twirl it between his stout cone- 

 shaped mandibles to get rid of the scales, and then swallow the 



