() INTRODUCTION. 



the latter especially have always appeared to me patterns of 

 neatness, and though I have had many, I do not recollect being 

 obi iged to clean the feet of any, whilst larks and fauvettes have 

 them always dirty, and let them fester with ulcers rather then 

 take the trouble to clean them*. 



Many amateurs amuse themselves with taming their birds 

 so completely that they can let them fly out of a window and 

 recall them at pleasure. A friend of mine, who tamed not 

 only birds, but also adders, otters, weasels, foxes, and the like, 

 knew how to render them so familiar that at the least sign 

 they would follow him anywhere. This method was as easy 

 ;is it was sure, and I can judge of it from having been an eye- 

 witness to the effect; it is as follows : 



When he wishes to accustom a bird to fly out and return, 

 or go out of doors perched on his hand or shoulder, he begins 

 by opening the cage and teazing the bird with a feather. The 

 bird soon pecks at it, then at the finger, and at last ventures 

 outside the cage to fly on the finger presented to it. My 

 friend then caresses it, and gives it something nice to eat, so 

 that it soon becomes accustomed to feed on the hand. When 

 this is attained, he begins to teach it to come at a certain call, 

 and as soon as it will allow itself to be taken, he carries it 

 on his hand or shoulder from room to room, the doors and 

 windows being at first well closed ; he also lets it fly about a 

 little, making it return when called. At last, when the bird 

 comes at his call, without hesitation or fear of men or animals, 

 he tries it with precaution out of doors. It thus by degrees 

 becomes so accustomed to him that he can take it into the 

 garden, even in the midst of a large company, without any fear 

 of its flying away. 



Great precaution is necessary in spring, and during the 

 pairing season, when taking out old birds that have been thus 

 trained ; for, upon hearing the call of their own species, they 

 soon fly off to resume their wild state. Young linnets, bull- 

 finches, and canaries, are the species with which this method 

 succeeds best. 



* This perhaps depends on the peculiar forms of the bills more than on inclina- 

 tion, for the fauvette and blackcap often attempt to clean their feet without success. 

 TRANSLATOR. 



