QUAILOLOGY - DOMESTICATION, ETC, 35 



need the service of a brooder. (This will be referred to in 

 "Feed and Care of Chicks.") Place the foster-mother and 

 her brood in your office, place of business, shop, or home, 

 where they will come under your attention, so to speak, a hun- 

 dred times a day. Their cage may be made suitable for the 

 place it is to occupy, but such as will admit of room for them 

 to run and stretch their tiny legs, due regard being given to 

 the question of sunlight, ventilation, and protection against 

 cats. Feed them often at first, but don't overfeed them. In- 

 vite them to pick a morsel from your finger; if they have not 

 had their appetite fully satisfied, they will pick at it out of 

 curiosity, and finding it good to eat they are ready for another 

 invitation. Teach them to perch upon your finger; they may 

 resist a little at first, but patience and a little petting will en- 

 courage them. Invite their song by imitating the note-call of 

 their species. Under proper care and treatment they will 

 thrive and become very tame under your care and may be 

 taught to respond a cheery "Bob- White" at your signal, as well 

 as come at your command. 



Care should be taken to keep the little fellows out of hearing 

 distance of wild or semi-tamed birds, as they will very soon 

 teach them to be shy by their warning calls. For this reason 

 it is not advisable to attempt to tame chicks hatched by the 

 quail, unless a perfectly tame one, as they are taught the wild 

 traits from the moment they leave the shell. 



We have not the time to devote to making perfect pets of our 

 birds, such as would like to do. One especially, which we have 

 christened "Dick," a male Valley Partridge, is the chief of our 

 attention. He is quite content to perch upon our finger and 

 be caressed, but resents any false movements with a peck of 

 his bill. He is an all around mischief, and a fighter "from a- 

 way-back." The English Pheasant cocks take a back seat for 

 him and even our old speckled rooster says, "git-out." 



Where a specialty is made of it, birds are easily tamed, taught 



