Jimmy the Butcher-bitd 1 1 7 



under different circumstances he would change his bar- 

 barous traits. 



Can a wild bird be civilized? Can he retain his 

 freedom and yet put off his bad habits? When he begins 

 to hunt his own food, will he know that it is right to hunt 

 beetles, grasshoppers, and mice, but against the law to kill 

 goldfinches ? 



Jimmy was given the freedom of the back porch. 

 This was a large apartment, and was well screened. Some 

 branches were hung up to make the place look as woodsy 

 as possible, and a special table was built for the new 

 arrival. In two or three weeks he was able to fly quite 

 well, and it was decided to give him the freedom of the 

 back yard. It was the real nature of the bird that we 

 wanted to study, the wild bird under civilized circum- 

 stances, but not in a cage. 



It did not take Jimmy long to make friends and to 

 know his mistress. He was awake and squealing at day- 

 light. He fluttered at the window, and the minute the 

 door opened he was in the kitchen and perched on the 

 shoulder or arm of his mistress, begging to be fed. There 

 was no doubt as to his preference ; he wanted fresh meat. 

 When the door of the back porch was opened and Jimmy 

 was Invited to go out Into the yard and learn to find his 

 own breakfast, he accepted the Invitation with eagerness. 

 He poked around through the rose-bushes and along the 

 fence more from curiosity than with the Idea of getting 

 something to eat. He often perched in the pear tree. 

 Then, when he was hungry, he hopped back to the porch, 

 for he knew the table was always set there. 



Jimmy was lazy when it came to hunting his own 



