Birds of Oregon and Washington 257 



around our homes, were taken in and treated 

 considerately, they would come back in the next 

 spring's migration, much more susceptible to 

 our winning arts, bringing with them familiar 

 memories of our former kindness. 



Dr. Hodge, who thus tamed the Waxwing, 

 gives us the suggestion of a way to save grown 

 birds the agony of fear which they usually en- 

 dure when, out of kindness, taken into tempo- 

 rary captivity. Put the birds in a suitable cage, 

 provided with a little food and water, if they 

 can feed themselves. Wait until the food is 

 gone, then begin to feed them, using a stick 

 which should be long enough not to frighten 

 them by your too close presence at the cage. 

 Upon the end of the stick, place the most tempt- 

 ting food (meal-worms for nearly all birds), and 

 slowly put it before them ; after even a time or 

 two, you may hold the stick near the feeding- 

 end, and soon your hand may carry the food, and 

 before you are quite ready for it, the cage being 

 opened, the bird will go to meet you. 



All birds, in temporary captivity, that can feed 

 themselves, will be somewhat older than mere 

 fledglings. The latter never feed themselves, 



