178 THE MINDS AND MANNERS 



As usual in the study of wild creatures, the first thing that 

 we encounter in the wild bird is 



Temperament. On this hangs the success or failure of 

 a species in association with man. Temperament in the most 

 intellectual wild creatures is just as evident and negotiable to 

 the human eye as colors are in fur or feathers. 



A vastly preponderating number of bird species are of 

 sanguine temperament; and it is this fact alone that renders 

 it possible for us to exhibit continuously from 700 to 800 species 

 of birds. Sensible behavior in captivity is the one cons picuous 

 trait of character in which birds mentally and physically are 

 far better balanced than mammals. But few birds are foolishly 

 nervous or hysterical, and when once settled down the great 

 majority of them are sanguine and philosophical. Birds of a 

 great many species can be caught in an adult state and settled 

 down in captivity without difficulty; whereas all save a few 

 species of mammals, when captured as adults, are irrecon- 

 cilable fighters and many of them die far too quickly. In a 

 well-regulated zoological park nearly every animal that has 

 been caught when adult is a failure and a nuisance. 



To name the species of birds that can be caught fully grown 

 and settled down for exhibition purposes, would create a list 

 of formidable length. It is indeed fortunate for us that this 

 is true; for the rearing of nestlings is a tedious task. 



A conspicuous exception to the rule of philosophic sedateness 

 in newly caught birds is the loon, or great northern diver. 

 That bird is so exceedingly nervous and foolish, and so persistent 

 in its evil ways, that never once have we succeeded in inducing 

 a loon to settle down on exhibition and be good. When caught 

 and placed in our kind of captivity, the loon goes daft. It 

 dives and dives, and swims under water until it is completely 

 exhausted; it loses its appetite, and very soon dies. Of course 

 if one had a whole marine biological station to place at the 

 disposal of the foolish loon, it might get on. 



There are other odd exceptions to the rule of normal bird 



