282 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



The Stari.txg 



in 1840 they have spread far and near. They 

 are generally green, but other species are 

 raised which are very handsome, among them 

 the whites and the blues. They are made to 

 hatch (as do most of the parrot race) in closet 

 nests, because in the natural state they raise 

 their young in hollows. 



If persons have but one parrot, it is best not 

 to use the traditional round cage, but a square 

 one with a flat roof. It is not at all 

 necessary that the perches should 

 be of metal. It is true that the 

 birds take delight in gnawing 

 wooden ones, but what of 

 that ? When the perches fly 

 into splinters new ones can 

 be inserted, and, in any 

 case, parrots must be sup- 

 plied with bits of wood. They 

 must also have plenty of sand 

 and rust is as bad for them as 

 for other birds. Then why use brass 

 cages ? The larger species should be 

 fed with rice, Indian corn, and hemp ; 

 the smaller ones with canary seed and oats. 



Parrots surely mark the limit of the various 

 races that may still be reckoned among domes- 

 tic animals. Other species of decorative birds 



A Tr.-mxed Crow 



are found in aviaries, where, 

 bred and brought up in captiv- 

 ity, they know no other home 

 than that with man. Among 

 them are pheasants, peacocks, 

 and certain gallinaceous fowls 

 that are never fully tamed. But 

 can these be termed domestic 

 animals .' For the pheasant of 

 our woods, the wild bird we 

 hunt, the answer must certainly 

 be in the negative. Among the 

 decorative pheasants, kept for 

 their beauty, the best known 

 are the ffohicii plicasant (Tliau- 

 jiialca pitta), very difficult to 

 raise, and the diauiond, coppci\ 

 and silver plicasauts, and all of 

 these are brilliant in color, quick 

 in their movements, and very 

 self-conscious in manner. 



Peacocks were once the great adornment of 

 parks and country houses, and the cool tints 

 of their displayed plumage had an indescrib- 

 able charm and beauty. The common peacock 

 (Pavo crislatiis) is either of a metallic green- 

 ish blue or wholly white. The well-known 

 ostentatious parading of the cock before the hen 

 and his coquettish hops and jumps are curious 

 to behold. Other birds are disturbed 

 by them and will not have any- 

 \ thing to do with these proud, 

 self-conscious denizens of the 

 poultry yard and shrub- 

 beries, but will wander away 

 i from them outside of the 

 park, if permitted, thinking 

 rj/ their own thoughts on the 

 J^l subject. 



*: Neither the croic nor the niag- 

 a<4l^ pie nor the starling is admitted 

 into the aviaiy for lack of brilliant 

 color ; \ct they are much nearer to 

 being domestic animals than the pheas- 

 ant or the peacock. The crow, especially, allows 

 himself to be taught and trained, while great 

 amusement can be got out of the starling when 

 his true value is appreciated. He can whistle, 



