Birds may be taught a number of amusing feats1, although some we shall explain require so much time, labor3, and skill, as to render them rather more difficult than most amateurs will care to undertake, but there are many which any suitable bird may be taught, with reasonable pains. A person with a faculty4 for invention can arrange various little mechanical contrivances in the cages of his birds, more or less elaborate according to the skill and fancy of the inventor. A very neat arrangement consists of an inclined plane outside the cage upon which a little wagon5 may run, or a little tray slide, containing bird seed. To this vessel6 is attached one end of a string, the other end leading up the plane and being secured inside the cage. This is so arranged that when the string is pulled the vessel is drawn7 up to an opening in the cage sufficiently8 large for the bird to secure the seed, but not large enough to permit his escape. To teach the bird to draw this vessel up he must be kept without food until he becomes quite hungry. When hungry he will peck at anything in his cage.
The string should be so arranged that he can seize it without trouble, and the apparatus9 should work smoothly10 and require little strength. The seed vessel should be in sight of the bird so that he may be tempted11 by the seed. At first he will peck at the string as he would at anything else, and will naturally pull it without any idea of the result. When he sees this result almost every bird will persevere12 until he brings his “commissary department” within his reach, and instinct will teach him to retain it in place and prevent its sliding back by placing his foot on the string while he eats.
Houdin, the French conjuror13, when a youth, was employed as errand boy in a lawyer’s office. In this office was a large cage of birds, the care of which was one of his duties. This afforded him an opportunity for exercising that talent which he in after years applied14 so successfully to the manufacture of automata and conjuring15 apparatus. He thus describes his labors16: “I began by setting up in this cage a number of mechanical tricks I had invented at college under similar circumstances. I gradually added fresh ones and ended by making the cage a work of art and curiosity, affording considerable attraction to our visitors. At one spot was a perch17 near which the sugar and seed-glass displayed their attractions, but no sooner had the 200innocent canary placed its foot on the fatal perch than a circular cage encompassed18 it, and it was kept a prisoner until another bird, perching on an adjoining piece of wood set loose a spring which delivered the captive. At another place were baths and pumps; further on was a small trough, so arranged that the nearer the bird seemed to draw to it the further off it really was. Lastly, each denizen19 of the cage was obliged to earn its food by drawing forward with its beak20 small pasteboard carts.”
We have known the following arrangement to be used for bullfinches, which might be applied to other birds: The apparatus for drawing up its food and water consisted of a band of soft leather one-sixth of an inch in breadth, in which were pierced four holes, through which the feet and wings of the bird were put, and the ends united to a ring on the belly21. To this ring was attached a small chain fastened at the other end to the seed and water vessel. When the bird is hungry it pulls the chain up a little way with his beak, puts his foot on it to retain the length already gained, then pulls again, and so continues. Sometimes the two vessels22 are attached to a pulley in such a manner that when one descends23 the other rises, so that the bird has to pull up each as he wants it.
Canaries may be taught to come and go at command. To accomplish this the cage should be provided with doors which open only inward, and which close of themselves. When the male and female have been paired the former is let fly in some garden where there are trees; the cage is then hung outside the window, that his mate may lure24 him back. This is repeated five or six days, always letting the male go again without touching25 him, so he may not be terrified. After a time the female too may be set at liberty, the door of the cage being left permanently26 open that they may go and return at will.
The European sparrow, which is becoming acclimated27 here, and will no doubt soon become as common here as there, is often taught to leave home and return at call. All that is necessary is to keep it a month in a large cage at the window, plentifully28 supplied with good food, such as millet29, bread, etc. Winter is the best time for this purpose. An inmate30 of the H?tel des Invalides, at Paris, is said to have made a sparrow so tame as to leave it perfectly31 at liberty without any fear of losing it. It was ornamented32 with a small bell fastened by a ribbon around its neck. It would not allow itself to be touched by any one but its owner, and was so fond of him that it could not be induced to leave him when at last he became bed-ridden. On one occasion it was caught and deprived of its bell. It was, 201however, melancholy33 and refused to eat until another bell had been provided.
It is said that crushed hemp34 seed fed to linnets takes away their love of liberty, and that it may be used advantageously when it is desired to teach them to come in through the open window without danger of their flying away. It is advised that they should be confined in a large cage placed in a window looking into a garden, for a considerable time before they are allowed to go out. Robins35 are often permitted to go away during the summer, and instances are often reported of their returning to take up winter quarters in the warm dwelling-house.
TAMED BIRDS PERFORMING VARIOUS FEATS.
Several individuals have made a regular profession of exhibiting performing birds. Uniting a peculiar36 skill and an exhaustless patience, these men labor ceaselessly in instructing their charges, and the result is that the birds learn to perform many surprising tricks. They are even taught to perform little dramatic scenes together; representing, for instance, the trial, condemnation37 and execution of a spy, in which the characters 202are all maintained by birds, and the action of the scene very cleverly represented. There is however a little trickery in this, the birds, although apparently38 acting39 without human agency, are in reality constantly under the direction of their trainer, who is usually concealed40 from the audience. Each bird is carefully instructed in his particular duties, and performs his part at certain signals or particular commands. While performing, the trainer carefully “works” the performers, keeps them up to their duties, and thus makes everything pass off smoothly in its regular order.
The method of training is merely an elaboration of what we have already given. The birds are first made perfectly tame, and then gradually encouraged to perform such little tricks as jumping over the trainer’s finger, seizing articles presented to them with their beak or claw, and other trifles. By-and-by the bird will wheel a little pasteboard wheelbarrow with the aid of a string attached to the handles, which he takes in his beak. Another bird is taught to take things in his claw by first having articles of food presented to him which he is only allowed to have when he takes them in that manner. Then some other article is offered him and when he takes that in like manner he is rewarded. When he will take an article at the command of the trainer all that is required for his performance is that the article desired should be offered him; thus the bird will take a miniature basket, gun, or any other article with equal readiness. A small lighted candle may even be used if managed carefully.
When a bird has learned to pull a string, or seize with his beak what is presented to his notice, this accomplishment41 may be applied to many tricks, apparently very different. He may be made to fire off a pistol by pulling a string attached to the trigger; to draw a little bucket from a diminutive42 well; to ring bells; and an almost unlimited43 number of like actions. Walking on a tight rope, or wire, and carrying a little flag is readily accomplished44 after the foregoing training. The bird is either lifted or guided upon the rope, and the flag then given him. Many tricks consist in the bird merely retaining a position given him, as in a little swing, cradle or at a little table. A very tame bird may be placed in an upright ring, around the margin45 of which are candles or jets of fire. There was a sparrow at one exhibition which performed the seemingly wonderful feat2 of selecting from a shuffled46 pack, a card previously47 chosen by any of the audience. A dirty pack of cards was handed to one of the company, who selected a card, and gave it back to the exhibitor, who shuffled the pack after replacing the card; he then put the pack upright in a kind of card-case, 203which so held them as to leave about half an inch above the brim. The Java sparrow hopped48 on one of the cards, and finally drew the identical one that had been drawn. The explanation became easy on examining the cards. At one end, each card had a thin layer of sweet-wafer paste; the selected card was taken by the exhibitor and placed in the pack; all the rest of the cards had the paste end downward, while the card alone was placed back in the pack with the opposite end upward. And the bird naturally looked at the end.
The greatest humbug49 in Vienna is a school of trained goldfinches, which a woman has taught to draw numbers from a bowl, without, however, selecting any particular one, but merely taking them hap-hazard. All the superstitious50 lottery51 ticket buyers go thither52 for an augury53, and the owner of the finches is reaping a rich harvest.
In a work entitled Pratt’s Gleanings, for many years out of print, and now almost out of existence, we find the following description of an exhibition given by a bird tamer at a fair in the town of Cleves:
“The canary was produced, and the owner harangued54 him in the following manner, placing him upon his forefinger55: ‘Bijou, jewel, you are now in the presence of persons of great sagacity and honor; take heed56 you do not disappoint the expectations they have conceived of you from the world’s report. You have got laurels57; beware, then, of erring58.’
“All this time the bird seemed to listen, and indeed placed himself in the true attitude of attention, by sloping his head to the ear of the man, and then distinctly nodding twice when his master left off speaking.
“‘That’s good,’ said the master, pulling off his hat to the bird. ‘Now, then, let us see if you are a canary of honor. Give us a tune59.’ The canary sang.
“‘Pshaw! that’s too harsh; ’tis the note of a raven60, with a hoarseness61 upon him; something pathetic.’ The canary whistled as if his little throat was changed to a lute62.
“‘Faster,’ says the man—‘slower—very well—what a plague is this foot about, and this little head? No wonder you are out, Mr. Bijou, when you forget your time. That’s a jewel—bravo! bravo! my little man!’
“All that he was ordered or reminded of did he do to admiration63. His head and foot beat time—humored the variations of both tone and movement.
“‘Bravo! bravo!’ re-echoed from all parts of the room. The musicians declared the canary was a greater master of music than any of their band.
204“‘And do you not show your sense of this civility, sir?’ cried the bird catcher with an angry air. The canary bowed most respectfully, to the delight of the company.
“His next achievement was that of going through the martial64 exercise with a straw gun, after which, ‘My poor Bijou,’ says the owner, ‘thou hast had hard work and must be a little weary; a few performances more and thou shalt repose65. Show the ladies how to make a curtsey.’ The bird here crossed his taper66 legs and sank and rose with an ease and grace that would have put half the belles67 to the blush.
“‘That will do, my bird; and now a bow, head and foot corresponding.’ Here the striplings for ten miles around London might have blushed also.
“‘Let us finish with a hornpipe, my brave little fellow; that’s it, keep it up, keep it up.’
“The activity, glee, spirit, and accuracy with which this last order was obeyed, wound up the applause to the highest pitch of admiration. Bijou himself seemed to feel the sacred thirst of fame, and shook his little plumes68 and carolled an “Io paean” that sounded like the conscious notes of victory.”
A curious trick is performed by a particular kind of pigeon, quite common in India. These birds are called “tumbling pigeons” from their peculiarity69 which consists of tumbling on the ground, instead of in the air. When required to tumble they are taken in the hand, and the head slightly rubbed or “filliped” with the finger, and then they are put on the ground, when they continue to tumble until taken up. They are not left on the ground until their tumblings are completed, being invariably taken up after they have tumbled about a dozen times; probably they would injure or exhaust themselves, if left longer. The pigeons are always white, and though their wings are long and pointed70, they seem to have small powers of flight.
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1
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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conjuror
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| n.魔术师，变戏法者 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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denizen
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| n.居民，外籍居民 | |
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beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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23
descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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acclimated
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| v.使适应新环境，使服水土服水土，适应( acclimate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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millet
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| n.小米，谷子 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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robins
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| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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44
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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46
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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48
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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49
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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50
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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51
lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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52
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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augury
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| n.预言，征兆，占卦 | |
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54
harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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56
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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hoarseness
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| n.嘶哑， 刺耳 | |
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lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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belles
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| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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