The first book of birds; (1899) (14569153947)

House Wren

Identifier: firstbookofbirds00mill (find matches)

Title: The first book of birds;

Year: 1899 (1890s)

Authors: Miller, Harriet Mann, 1831-1918

Subjects: Birds

Publisher: Boston, New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company

Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries

Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

Text Appearing Before Image:

ed to enjoy it asmuch as the bird. Often a bird who is tamed loves his humanfriends. A man had a crow who was very fondof him. He had reared the bird from the nestand never shut him up, but let him fly aboutwherever he chose. One day he was out in a sudden rain, and hisfeathers got wet, so that he could not fly well.Then a boy caught him, and carried him sevenmiles away. He clipped one wing, so that thecrow could not fly, and kept him shut in thehouse all winter. In the spring, the first time hecould get out, the bird started for his old home. He could not fly, but he walked the sevenmiles, through mud and wet, and came home sotired that he was almost dead. When his mas-ter saw him coming he went to meet him, tookhim up and petted him, and talked to him. The poor fellow was so happy it seemed as ifhe could not live. But he was taken care of,and got well, and lived many years. But neverafter that would he leave the place, thoughwhen his new feathers came in he could fly aswell as ever.

Text Appearing After Image:

HOUSE WREN HIS AFFECTIONS 81 Canary birds often love their mistress. Ihave heard of one who was so grieved by aharsh word, that in a few minutes he fell off hisperch dead. These true stories show us how tender andloving these little creatures are, and how carefulwe should be to treat them gently and kindly. An interesting and true story is told by aclergyman in Ohio. It is a habit of wrens tofind a good nesting-place, and then look for amate to occupy it. One spring a wren chose anice bird-box on his place, and held it ready forthe expected bride. But she did not come, anda pair of English sparrows took a fancy to thesame house. Sparrows expect to get what they want, andare always ready to fight for it, so they gavebattle to the wren. But wrens also will fightfor their own, and this wren held his houseagainst the enemy for two weeks. Still themate did not appear, and finally the lonely birdlost heart, and let the sparrows set up house-keeping in his box, though he did not go away. Whe

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1899

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