The Bluebird 203 



the pleasure of carefully studying the habits in captiv- 

 ity of both old and young of this species. The old 

 birds were kept in a large room with several other 

 varieties of American birds, and here they were models 

 of good behaviour, not only among their own kind, but 

 in their relations with the other birds. 



The young birds were kept in cages, and with a 

 moderate amount of care and attention became very 

 tame. It was amusing to see them, about the usual 

 feeding time, arrange themselves on a particular perch. 

 Each bird, in order of precedence, would take the food 

 from a stick, and if one was purposely omitted, there was 

 no fluttering of wings or selfish attempt to obtain the 

 morsel as it was offered to the next bird. 



These unselfish table manners I have observed in 

 wild bluebirds as well. Several years ago a pair of 

 bluebirds selected, as a home, the deserted winter 

 quarters of a downy woodpecker. The cavity was 

 located in the dead branch of a cherry tree which stood 

 in the yard in the rear of the house. On the seventh 

 day after the young were hatched, a severe wind and 

 rain storm so broke and split the old stub that the 

 young were in danger of perishing. We soon converted 

 a small basket into a temporary and comfortable nest 

 for the unfortunate family, and from a second story 

 window of the house we watched the birds unobserved. 



