DESTRUCTION AND PROTECTION 549 



sufficient water and a warm dust bath. These two 

 things, he believes, attach the birds strongly to a hom- 

 ing place. His birds were at liberty during the day. 

 He says : 



"The little fellows have an affinity for brush patches, 

 corn, asparagus beds, or any sort of natural cover, 

 like that of ducks for water. Instead of proving the 

 nuisance that I at first feared, this affinity may be 

 turned to excellent account if properly indulged and 

 arranged for. I always keep a little brush-pile, with an 

 armful of hay or freshly cut weeds thrown over it, 

 in the home cage. This also attracts them to the 

 place. If they have located in a clump of bushes or 

 a weed patch, they are safe for the day. Should a 

 thunder storm come up, and the birds are as tame as 

 they should be, they can be whistled home, or an insect 

 net be put over the entire cluster and they can be car- 

 ried into the brooder. When they began to fly in the 

 second week, I expected to be obliged to clip their 

 wings. I did not do this, however, and, as the sequel 

 proved, their ability to fly is a great advantage in 

 rearing them. Within the past few days a wind storm 

 opened one of my cages containing adult and young 

 birds. Though able to fly for miles, I drove them 

 back into the cage as easily as if they had been a flock 

 of little chickens. During the summer the flocks 

 would range out afoot to feed and fly home. In feed- 

 ing the birds I used from the first a low whistle, in 

 imitation of the feeding note of the chicks themselves. 

 On coming home at noon or night the flock might be 



