312 A Plea for the Birds 



pole, with three sides closed up as a protection 

 against the prevailing winds, will serve well. If 

 the sides can be of glass, thus insuring a passing 

 bird a glimpse of the food within, so much the 

 better. These feeding houses, too, should be 

 situated not too near a dwelling house. 



It may seem cruel to keep birds caged but some 

 species will have no objection to caging if they are 

 well treated. They should be fed and watered 

 regularly and many of them can be trained to fly 

 out for awhile and later return to their homes by 

 such a simple method as tying a string to the leg 

 with the opposite end of it fastened to the cage. 

 If this is done a few times, gradually lengthening 

 the string,' | and the bird returns happily to the 

 cage, by and by he may be permitted to go free, 

 with the door left open for his return. The prac- 

 tice of using the string should be continued until 

 the bird has many times returned willingly to the 

 cage. Of course, a bird sometimes may become 

 lost to his owner but surely if a bird after kind 

 treatment and freedom prefers the open, he should 

 have it. His home should not be his prison. 

 They were originally intended for greater latitude 

 than humans and none of us would desire prison- 

 life however kindly the treatment. 



There is such a wonderful variety of birds and we 



