Part 45 (1/2)

[8] The reason of this union of vegetable and animal food may be easily seen; the bread supplies the seed for the birds of the first cla.s.s, and the milk the insects for those of the second, while the third and fourth here find their mixed food; and thus it ought to agree with all.

Besides, the birds of the first cla.s.s do not confine themselves exclusively to seeds; in their wild state they eat many insects, and some even feed their young entirely with them; this proves that animal food is sometimes useful and beneficial to them.--TRANSLATOR.

[9] If a rather large, flat, and not very deep vessel be used, in which the birds can bathe at their ease, it will make them more healthy and clean.--TRANSLATOR.

[10] White's Selborne, 8vo. edit. 1833.

[11] See Rennie's ”HABITS OF BIRDS,” p. 13.--TRANSL.

[12] This, though the common opinion, seems incorrect. See Rennie's ”HABITS OF BIRDS,” p. 4.--TRANSLATOR.

[13] There are varieties in this species: that with the head grey is rare, but when quite white is still more so.--TRANSLATOR.

[14] It is rare in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[15] It is not a native of Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[16] Perhaps from not having been given now and then feathers, the fur and skin of animals, or even beetles, to cleanse the stomach.--TRANSLATOR.

[17] It is doubtful as a native of Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[18] The rook, (_Corvus frugilegus_, Linnaeus,) seems here to be confounded with the carrion crow. I say nothing about this species, as I have never heard of one being tamed or instructed. It is about the size of the carrion crow, and chiefly differs from it in the base of the beak being naked, and having a rough scabrous skin.--TRANSLATOR.

[19] It appears that in its course from Sweden to Algiers it does not range beyond a degree in longitude, and is rarely found in Britain. Few birds of this group, as far as has. .h.i.therto been observed, wander to the right or left during their migration. The roller frequents shady and solitary woods, and its character is well adapted to them.--TRANSLATOR.

[20] I once saw one of these birds drink, after swallowing dry ants'

eggs; it then eat greedily of lettuce and endive. Another, which I kept, liked the outside of lettuces and spinach after having eaten insects, especially beetles, which are very heating. To judge from what I have observed, the roller is by nature wild and solitary; it seldom changes its situation, except to seek its food or to hide itself from strangers.

It is a good thing, whether kept in a cage or let range, always to have a box in its way, in which it may take refuge when frightened; it will not fail to hide itself there, and by this means will not be tempted to beat itself violently, which it does when it cannot fly from the object of its fright. It knows its mistress very well, lets her take it up, comes near her, and sits without any fear on her knees for whole hours without stirring. This is as far as it goes even when tamed. It is neither caressing nor familiar; when frightened it utters harsh cries, softer ones when its food is brought, but ”_crag, crag, craag_,” at the same time raising its head, is the expression of its joy or triumph.--TRANSLATOR.

[21] It is rarely found in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[22] These young birds like to wash; but it is dangerous for them to have the water too cold, or to let them remain too long in it, as cramp in the feet may be the consequence. In one which we possessed, the accident was more vexatious as the bird was otherwise in good health, having followed the above mentioned diet.--TRANSLATOR.

[23] The natural song is very like the awkward attempts of a country boy with a bad musical ear to whistle the notes of the missel thrush.--TRANSLATOR.

[24] It is not common in Britain.--TRANSLATOR.

[25] It may be added that it also walks very gracefully.--TRANSLATOR.

[26] It appears that the _Psittacus Ludovicia.n.u.s_, LINNaeUS, _Perruche a tete aurore_, BUFFON, is the same species.

[27] I have, however, seen a woodp.e.c.k.e.r of this species which was reared by a lady, to whom it seemed very much attached. It had learnt of itself to go and return, knocking hard at the window if it was shut out. It was very amusing to see it climbing nimbly over its mistress till it had reached her mouth; it then asked her by light strokes of its beak for the food which she was accustomed to give it; this was generally a little meat. It disappeared one day, without any one's knowing what accident had befallen it.--TRANSLATOR.

[28] A bird of this species, which had been accidentally winged by a sportsman, was kept in a small cage of plain oak wood and wire. During a night and a day that his confinement lasted, his tapping labour was incessant; and after occupying his prison for that short s.p.a.ce, he left the wood-work pierced and worn like worm-eaten timber. His impatience at his situation was excessive; his efforts to escape were unremitted, and displayed much intelligence and cunning. He was fierce, fearlessly familiar, and voracious of the food placed before him. At the close of the second day he sunk under the combined effects of his vexation, a.s.siduity, and voracity. His hammering was peculiarly laborious, for he did not peck as other birds do, but grasping hold with his immense feet, he turned upon them as a pivot, and struck with the whole weight of his body, thus a.s.suming the appearance, with his entire form, of the head of a hammer, or, as birds may sometimes be seen to do on mechanical clocks, made to strike the hour by swinging on a wheel. The Rev. W. T. Bree, of Allesley, says, that having caught a nuthatch in the common brick trap used by boys, he was struck with the singular appearance of its bill, so unlike that of any bird he had ever seen. It was blunt at the end, and presented the appearance of having been truncated in an oblique direction, as if the natural beak had been cut off. He naturally inferred that it had been fairly ground down to about two-thirds of its original length, by the bird's pecking at the bricks, in its efforts to escape from the trap.--TRANSLATOR.

[29] The parrot crossbill is a very different species, but is rare.--TRANSLATOR.

[30] The too great heat has doubtless also something to do with it.--TRANSLATOR.