JA VA SPA RR O Wti. 



JAVA SPARROWS. 



EVERY one who writes of the Gray Java Sparrows mentions the fact that they 

 are well-known cage-birds, and this is indeed true. Probably no foreign cage-bird 

 is better known here than this sleek, handsome, inquisitive-looking fellow. To be 

 sure, beyond his well arranged dress and docile ways, he has no special recom- 

 mendation ; yet it is always a pleasure to look at one, or a number of them, chat- 

 ting away as lively as a lot of blooming maidens arrayed for a matinee. 



The Java Sparrow's chief object in life seems to be to keep clean, a virtue which 

 a great man}' sweet singers do not possess ; and this, likely, makes him the favorite 

 with many admirers. He is an amusing bird, and is much sought after as a pet for 

 children and invalids. His short chirps are not disagreeable, and will in no way be 

 a disturbance in a sick-room ; while, socially, his company is very enjoyable. 



He derives his name from the island of Java, in which place, and other East- 

 Indian countries, large numbers are captured, and brought to European and American 

 ports by sailors. The care given to a very large number of them during a voyage 

 is very slight ; as they are hardy birds, capable of withstanding all degrees of heat 

 and cold, and thrive on unhulled rice alone. They are called in their native coun- 

 tries Rice-birds, and are as common as the English Sparrows in our own land. They 

 do immense damage to the rice-crops, and are a source of constant annoyance to 

 the inhabitants, who endeavor, by means of movable scarecrows, very ingenious in 

 construction, to deter them from destroying the crops. But like our native tor- 

 ment, the Crow, they become accustomed to the various devices used, and wink at 

 such means of intimidation. 



The Java Sparrow is about five inches in length : the beak is very strong and 

 large, and is of a beautiful rose color, with the appearance of being modelled from 

 wax. The middle of the breast and belly are a handsome shade of slate color, and 

 the upper parts of the body are a somewhat darker shade of the same color. On 

 the cheeks are clear white spots ; and the throat and face are black, with a satin-like 

 sheen ; the feet are reddish brown. 



There is no cage-bird so easily kept as the Java Sparrow : he is like the Chinese 

 in his frugality ; rice being his only food, and a daily bath his principal luxury. 



He may be easily taught numberless amusing tricks, such as feigning death, 

 playing soldier, standing on his head, etc. 



In London a favorite trick-cage is used for the Java Sparrow : it is a common 

 wooden cage, with a large revolving-wheel for one side, and is fitted with perches 

 arranged in the form of a circular ladder ; inside the wheel a music-box is con- 

 cealed. The Sparrow is trained to jump from one rung of the ladder to another, 



