226 



CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



The Jackdaws form the outside of their nests with slender twigs or sticks, and 

 line them with any thing soft, pieces of lace, worsted, or frills of any kind. 

 These articles he is abundantly able to procure in his numberless wanderings, and 

 he has great dexterity in slipping clothes-pins when nobody is looking. It is 

 related, that, in a botanic garden in England, the valuable plants were labelled by 

 means of slender wooden tags. The country in the vicinity was inhabited by numer- 

 ous Jackdaws, who, to save the labor of seeking after twigs for their nests, utilized 

 the labels in the grounds. They utilized them so well, that, in one chimney alone, 

 no less than eighteen dozen were found. It must have been a mixed-up day for 

 the gardeners. 



He does not seem to be so destructive a bird as the Rook and Crow, which 

 probably accounts for the esteem in which he is held. He is not so dignified as 

 the Raven ; but he is a lively fellow, strutting about, and chattering with the most 

 consequential of airs. His food and care are the same as the rest of the members 

 of the family. If any of the above birds are kept in confinement, they require the 

 largest-sized cages (probably a coop would be better) ; but it would be too bad to- 

 keep one caged, were it possible to allow him his liberty, as in no case when they 

 become tame do they ever attempt to take French leave. 



They should be taught words with only one or two syllables. They learn to 

 articulate words with long vowels better, and some of these they speak as clearly 

 and distinctly as the best-trained Parrots. 



COMPARATIVE TABLE : TALKING-BIRDS OTHER THAN PARROTS. 



A brief inspection of the above table will show, that in these birds we have an 

 intelligent, beautiful, and hardy lot, capable of learning many tricks, and of becom- 

 ing, in a limited way, masters of the English language. While they are none of 

 them great musicians, they are, in other respects, most interesting members of the 

 feathered tribe ; and an acquaintance with any one of them is sure to ripen into 

 admiration, and usually into mutual affection. 



