70 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:2— Feb., 1917 



and markings carefully. They should note that the back is not 

 so blue as the wings, that the forehead and collar are black, that 

 the wings and tail of exquisite blue are cross-barred with black 

 and tipped with white and the wing bars are white. The crest on 

 the head of the blue jay is used to express his feelings and should 

 be studied as a guide to his emotions. A pet bluejay is the most 

 mischievous of birds. It will destroy books, upholstery, and 

 almost anything that it can tear, and it will steal pins and jewelry. 

 This bird is also an imitator and learns the notes of other birds, 

 and seems to enjoy playing practical jokes upon his companions. 

 One will scream like a hawk and then seem to chuckle to see all the 

 little birds scared and seek to hide. The jays cease to be noisy 

 at nesting time. They slip away, build their nest, and rear their 

 young in some secluded spot, and talk in low tones to each other, 

 and are as retired and modest now as they were formerly aggres- 

 sive. 



Treatment of Pets. — We cannot begin too early to impress upon 

 children their duties toward the lower animals and especially 

 toward their pets. Dr. Hornaday has declared that "being a pet 

 is at best a hazardous occupation," and he being at the head of 

 one of the largest zoological gardens in America should surely 

 know. There are plenty of lessons to enforce the necessity of 

 constant kindness and care to those creatures dependent upon 

 the child, who should be impressed with his duties as caretaker. 

 He should be made to think of what would happen to him if his 

 parents should forget to give him food or drink for a day or two. 

 The teachers should have talks with the children about the proper 

 care to be given to cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, canaries, 

 pigeons, goldfish, etc. 



Reference — Pet Book, Comstock. 



The Language of Animals. — Children are far more sensitive 

 to the meaning of sounds made by animals and birds than are 

 grownups. As a child I knew by the notes of my canary whether 

 he was happy, discontented, angry, or merely talkative. I also 

 knew at least twelve of the emotions expressed in the rather 

 extensive language of the hens, and I never thought of mentioning 

 this knowledge to anybody. I just knew it and that was all there 

 was to it. I was alike conversant with the talk of the dairy herds 

 and the pigs and the cat and dog. It is well to impress upon 

 children that every sound made by bird or animal has its meaning 



