Carl Naether—A Beginner tries Softbills



153



by a Japanese Bush-warbler, whom he heard but very few days, and

many other quaint notes. Perhaps the most delightful phase of his

song consists of whistles which are clear, oft repeated, and very joyous.

As a songster the Shama is truly indefatigable, singing literally almost

from early morning until late at night, and even by electric light.

Nor was there ever a more active or more beautiful creature. Graceful

and alert in all his movements, his plumage is as glossy and sleek as

if every single feather of it were indeed brand new.


In the British and other avicultural magazines, I have, with some

envy, read how the Shama has been bred successfully time and time

again. Though I have for the past year and a half tried my very best

to procure a female Shama, I have been unable to do so. It seems

that females are not imported into the United States, though, to be

sure, they seem quite plentiful in the European bird markets.


My second Softbill, and one to grace a very large and roomy

cage, is a Clarino, also called Townsend’s Solitaire Thrush or Flycatcher.

The poor bird arrived in a very small, open wire cage from the Mexican

border, there being neither water nor feed in it. He was in deplorable

condition, with drooping head and wings—ready to die. Since he

was too weak to eat, I had to force him to take some bread dipped

in goat’s milk. To my joy, he responded quickly. Within a week

he took mealworms from the hand. Before the first month of his

sojourn in Southern California was up, he sang. And such a strangely

beautiful song ! Never before had I heard the like of it. It was like

the tinkling of distant silver bells mingled with the rich, clear notes

of a clarinet—and all uttered very joyously and spiritedly. Once you

have heard the Clarino’s beauteous melody, it is likely to linger in

your mind and heart like one of Nature’s everlasting blessings. Need¬

less to say, my Clarino is now very tame. Unlike other Clarinos I have

listened to, this particular bird’s song does not end with the usual

harsh and rasping note. So fond is this bird of bathing that he flies

into his bath cabinet the very moment it is placed in his cage. He

relishes especially chopped apple mixed with hard-boiled egg and some

crushed rusk or biscuit, which mixture he prefers to mocking-bird food.

His cage is so large that he has to fly from perch to perch, thus keeping

in good health day after day.



