To the Editor of Bird-Lore.
Dear Sir:—In the main Mrs. Miller's statement of the case is the one that I have come to adopt. In fact, my prejudices against the practice of caging birds were entirely banished and the whole subject revealed in a new light by reading Mrs. Miller's 'Bird Ways.' Such wonderful possibilities of bird happiness, child culture and education, and bird study were opened up by this little book that, from being opposed to caged birds, I was converted to believe that the cage might be made one of the most important factors in the great new field of bird study, and, I hope, actual bird culture, which seems to be dawning before us.
The subject has a number of ethical bearings which Mrs. Miller does not touch upon, two of which I may point out.
FEEDING A PET CEDAR WAXWING
Which lives out of doors, all over the house, and in his cage
Photographed from nature by C. F. Hodge
First: We may not only have a "right" to confine a bird, but it may become a duty which we owe not only to the bird itself, but to the community as well. The moment before beginning to write this a young Robin was sitting warmly in my hand gulping down earthworms and blackberries. He is now sleeping quietly in a cage by my side. I picked him up this noon on the ground under the nest, unable to fly, and I love to think of him safe and cosy instead of fluttering in the jaws of some miscreant cat. Some days ago a boy came and told me that a neighbor's wife had taken a young Robin away from her cat "and put it on top of the shed" (to fall down into the cat's mouth again). At my request he brought the bird, but it was so lacerated that it died that night. Of two nests of Robins I have known this season, in spite of me, the cats got seven of the young, and the eighth would have gone the same way were it not sleeping safely in another of my cages. In all, I have three young Robins, all picked up from the ground, unable to fly, all, without the shadow of a doubt, saved from the cats. None have died in my hands, the one killed by the neighbor's cat not counted, and they seem to be fairly happy little birds, though it is to be hoped that they will grow happier as they grow wiser. My point is simply that in the present exigency of our rapidly decreasing bird life, every child should learn how to care for fledglings of different species and have suitable cages where they may be kept until, at least, they are able to fly. This may often be done by hanging the cage near the nest, where the parents will feed it. Our children owe this work to the community, to themselves and to the birds. I am aware some will say that this will lead to the death of more fledglings than now go to feed the cats. And under present conditions, I regret to say, there is a good deal of truth in it. In trying to get children interested in this work, I have been surprised to find so many who say, "Oh yes, I would like to have some tame Robins so much; but you can't keep them alive. I have tried it, and they all died." "What did you feed them?" "Oh, bread crumbs;" now and then one will say "worms and berries." "Did they eat?" "No, I never saw them eat anything." "Did you give them any water to drink?" "No, I didn't think of that." "How often do you feed them? Do you know that birds are flying appetites? Did you feed them regularly about every hour?" "No, I put in some stuff generally about once a day." And so it goes. But shall we be content with this state of things when any bright child can be given the necessary instruction in an hour by which he can succeed in keeping alive and taming practically all the fledglings that fall in his way?
Second: We owe it as a duty to both the birds and ourselves to learn the facts of bird life. We do not adequately know the life story of a single one of our most common species. Every fact that can be discovered as to the good or the harm that birds do ought to be found out. Every fact so discovered will act as just so much more motive force to bring about proper relations with our birds. A few birds have been killed, and the stomach contents analyzed, to obtain facts about bird foods which have changed our sentiments and even legislation. Somebody owed this as a duty to both birds and community. But this method is not well adapted for use in elementary schools, and its results might be infinitely extended and the subject of bird foods made a matter of practical public education, by having classes in nature study throughout our schools make feeding tests with tame birds of different species. Cages will have to play at least a temporary role in work of this kind. More than this, a knowledge of bird ways, habits, methods of feeding and caring for their nests and young, their songs and calls, "their manners for the heart's delight," are great æsthetic and educational values. These might all be developed and enhanced by a proper use of caged birds. Instead of collections of stuffed birds, the ethics and educational value of which I wish might be discussed in BIRD-LORE, each city might have, possibly maintained by some ornithological society, a fine collection of pairs of a few of our most valuable species. These could make the rounds of the schools each year. This, too, need only be a temporary expedient, useful until sufficient general interest and knowledge is developed so that we may have, properly appreciated and protected, an abundance of our native birds tamed sufficiently to come close about our homes.
The above are but two points among many, and I bring them forward to bespeak a little intelligent favor for the proper use of the cage. We owe the birds duties of protection and acquaintance, and the cage may help us in the performance of both.
C. F. Hodge, Clark University.