TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 125 



bird is given in all its might, the 

 bird swells its breast, the tail 

 feathers are spread out like a fan, 

 it claps and spreads its wings, and 

 turns its head from right to left, 

 simultaneously, as if it intended 

 to listen to its own wonderful 

 tunes. The melodies are always 

 soon renewed, and it only ceases 

 singing to gather fresh breath. 

 Long 'ere the sun gilds the eastern 

 horizon with its golden hue, the 

 cardinal begins his song, and 

 ceases only when the burning sun 

 sends its scorching rays and com- 

 pels all life in nature to seek tem- 

 porary rest. But as soon as na- 

 ture recovers, the song is renewed 

 with such energy as if the bird 

 had never exerted its breats be- 

 fore, and its echo enlivens all the 

 neighborhood; it does not rest 

 unless being compelled by the 

 nightshade spreading around him. 

 In such fashion the red bird seeks 

 to dispell the wearisome hours of 

 the breeding female, and at times 

 the latter also, with the modesty 

 of its sex, joins the singing, but 

 with less force.. But few of us. 

 deny this noble songster our 'due 

 admiration. How delightful it is 

 during a sultry day and when the 

 darkening sky covers the forests, 

 and night seemingly approaches^ 

 suddenly the brilliant, well-known 

 tunes of our pet bird are heard 1 

 I witnessed this pleasure very of- 

 ten and for no price would I like 

 to miss it for ever." (Original 

 translation from the German work 

 of H. Nehring, Custodian Public 

 Museum, Milwaukee, "Die Nord- 

 Amerikanische Togelwelt " ) • 



Song birds in general were 

 more numerous around San An- 

 tonio in olden days, and in later 

 years in San Antonio's beautiful 

 public parks and many of them 

 were caged, mostly by Mexicajio, 

 who, as stated in the preceding 

 pages, concerning our ,ino0k- 

 ing bird, take good care in fear- 

 ing the imprisoned youngsters, 

 and nearly every Mexican home 



or village had its quota of caged 

 mocking birds, red birds, Mexi- 

 can canaries, virios and other prai- 

 rie birds. But of late years our 

 hustling modern business metrop- 

 olis harbors fewer song birds in 

 its borders, and caged birds also 

 are rarely seen, and it is well it 

 is thus, as imprisoned prairie 

 songsters rarely fare well or can 

 be kept any length of time alive 



Red Bird Eggs at Close Focus 



in a cage, for want of proper care 

 such birds need; but, with less 

 disturbance of such birds as still 

 are with us, these will remain in 

 our city gardens and parks the 

 year over, if not molested by "nig- 

 ger shooters," parlor rifle and the 

 little youngsters in general prowl- 

 ing around in search of birds and 

 birds' nests. 



In regard to our town sparrow 

 I may also add it is true these 

 lively little fellows sometimes be- 

 come a nuisance by their large 

 numbers infesting the galleries or 

 trees fronting residences and pub- 

 lic buildings, where they also seek 

 shelter and often prepare their 

 nests, and some of them (the so- 

 called English sparrow) often 

 chases other birds from our en- 

 closures and public parks; as a 

 whole, however, these hungry lit- 

 tle town sparrows, and especially 

 those around farms and pastures, 



