28 OUR HOME PETS 



everything with the most eager interest, the 

 room, the other birds, if there are any, and his 

 new cage. Almost any bird will appreciate 

 the improvement in his quarters, and begin to 

 try them by jumping from perch to perch. 

 Then he will learn where his food is, and lastly 

 begin to eat and drink. All this should be ac- 

 complished quietly, without excitement, and 

 to do so he must be left alone, and especially 

 not be stared at. 



The next day he will begin to feel some con- 

 fidence in you, and you may come quietly and 

 slowly up to him, put in fresh food and water, 

 and speak gently to him, but not look at him 

 much when near. A few days of this careful 

 treatment will do wonders towards reassuring 

 the trembling captive, and preparing him for 

 feeling acquainted, and from that to growing 

 tame and becoming attached to you. It makes 

 months of difference in taming a bird, the way 

 he is brought home. 



A very wild bird should always be covered 

 with a light cloth so that he cannot see people. 

 I once brought home a frantically wild golden- 

 wing woodpecker, who beat himself against 

 the bars as though he would kill himself. I 



