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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETIES. 
One Year 25 Cents 
ILLINOIS NUMBER 
Single Copy 5 Cents 
Published by the Wisconsin Audubon Society at Appleton, Wisconsin 
Entered as second class i.atter, May 16, 1904, at Appleton, Wis., uuder the act of Congress of Mar, 3. ’79. 
VOL. X. 
FEBRUARY, 1908. 
No. 8 
Bird Traits. 
“Birds,” Darwin tells us in the “Des¬ 
cent of Man” “sometimes exhibit benevo¬ 
lent feelings, they will feed deserted 
voung ones even of distinct species, but 
this perhaps ought to be considered as 
mistaken instinct. They will leed 
adults of their own species which have, 
become blind. Captain Stansbury found 
on Salt Lake, Utah, an old and completely 
blind pelican, which was fat and must 
have been well fed for along time by his 
companions. Mr. Blyth, as he informs 
me, saw Indian crows feeding two or 
three of their companions which were 
blind and I have heard of an analogous 
I h case with the domestic cock. Mr. Bux- 
• ton gives a curious account of a parrot 
which took care of a frost-bitten and 
crippled bird of a distinct species, 
cleansed her leathers, and defended her 
from the attacks of the other parrots 
which roamed freely about his garden. 
' It is a still more curious fact that these 
birds apparently evince some sympathy 
for the pleasures of their fellows. When 
a pair of cockatoos made a nest in an 
acacia tree, ‘It was ridiculous to see the 
extravagant interest taken in the matter 
bv others of the same species.’ Wheri- 
j ever the female left (the nest), she was 
surrounded by a troop ‘screaming horri¬ 
ble acclamations in her honour.’ 
Birds possess acute powers of observa¬ 
tion. Every mated bird, of course, rec¬ 
ognises its fellow. Mr. Bennett relates 
that in China after a drake of the beauti¬ 
ful mandarin teal had been stolen, the 
duck remained disconsolate, though sed¬ 
ulously courted by another mandarin 
drake, who displayed before her all his 
charms. After an interval of three weeks 
the stolen drake was recovered, and in¬ 
stantly the pair recognised each other 
with extreme jov. Audubon states that 
a certain number of mockingbirds remain 
all the vear round in Louisiana, whilst 
others migrate to the Eastern State; 
these latter, on their return, are instantly 
recognised, and always attacked, by their 
southern brethren. Birds under confine¬ 
ment distinguish different persons, as 
proved by the strong and permanent 
antipathy or affection they show, with¬ 
out any apparent cause, towards certain 
individuals. I have heard of numerous 
instances with jays, partridges, canaries, 
and especially bullfinches. Mr. Hussey 
has described in how extraordinary a 
manner a tamed partridge recognised 
everybody; and its likes and dislikes were 
very strong. This bird seemed ‘fond of 
gay colours, and no new gown or cap 
could be put on without catching his 
attention.’ Mr. Hewitt has described 
the habits of some ducks (recently de¬ 
scended'from wild birds), which, at the 
approach of a strange dog or cat, would 
rush headlong into the water, and exhaust 
themselves in their attempts to escape; 
but they knew Mr. Hewitt’s own dog and 
cats so well that they would lie down and 
