TAMING AND TRAINING. 123 



Birds which are taught in this way never forget, and 

 are always unhappy if out of their cage. Care 

 should be taken to see that the working of the ap 

 paratus is not hard, and that it is always in order, 

 otherwise a serious result might follow. A chain 

 attached to a little wagon may be drawn into the 

 cage and held in the same manner ; and the bird 

 may be taught to ring a bell by suspending it in a 

 corner of the cage, and leaving him without seed 

 until he is hungry, pulling the string attached to it 

 and ringing it, and putting some favorite food into 

 the glass. He will soon discover, that, whenever the 

 bell rings, he gets his food, and will seize the string 

 and ring it whenever he is hungry. 



A few words of advice to those about purchas- 

 ing a bird. All lovers of birds desire one with 

 beautiful plumage, as well as one gifted with exqui- 

 site powers of song. There are times when it is 

 impossible to secure both advantages in one bird, 

 and, when this should be the case, always select the 

 bird for his beauty of song, never for plumage. In 

 visiting a bird-store to make a purchase, perhaps 

 your first one, if the dealer has a large stock, and 

 there is an incessant singing, it is almost an im- 

 possibility for any person to select just such a bird 

 as he desires. One that the purchaser may think is 

 an elegant singer may, after you have him alone, 

 prove to be only a " twittering " bird, and his song 

 composed of only six or eight notes. Again, you 

 may select a bird for a sick friend who desires 

 something quieting, something that will sing 



