Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1885 — The Habits Of Birds. [ARTICLE]

The Habits Of Birds.

Birds do not cough and aneeze, Iml thoy A roam and snore, making tho most distressing sounds, as if strangling. They hiccough—a very droll affair it h, too—and they faint away. A goldfinch being frightened one night, ilk his struggles wm caught between the wires, and gave a cry like the squeak of a mouse in distress. On my hastening to his release, he slipped out into the room, and flew wildly about till he hit something and fell to the door. - He was picked up, and his fright culminated in a dead faint. Tho little head drooped, the body was limp, apparently perfectly lifeless, and he was lain in his cage ready to be buried in the morning. He was placed carefully on the breast, however, and in a few minutes he hopped upon his perch, shook out his ruffled feathers, and composed himself to sleep. One feat sometimes ascribed to man is, in the case of birds, a 1 teral fflet—they can sleep with one eye open. This curious habit I have watched closely, and I find it common in nearly all the varieties I have been able to observe. One eye will does sleepily, shut tight and appear to enjoy a good nap, while the other is wide awake as ever. It is not always the eye towards the light that sleeps, nor is it invariably the one from the light. The presence or absense of people makes no difference. I have even bad a bird stand on my arm or knee, draw up one leg, and seem to sleep soundly with one eye, while the other was wide open. In several years* close attention I have been unable to find any cause either in the position or the surroundings, for this strange habit No “set old woman’ is more wedded to her accustomed “ways” than are birds in general to theirs. Their hours for eating, napping, and singing are as regular as ours. So, likewise, are their habits in regard to alighting places, even to the very twig they select. After a week’s acquaintance with the habits of a bird, I can always tell when something disturbing has occurred, by the place in which he is found. One bird will makp the desk his favorite haunt, and freely visit tables, the rounds ot chairs, and the floor, while another confines himself to the backs of chairs, the tops of cages and pictnre frames. One hemit'thrnsh frequented, the bure-ya, and looking-glass frame, and the top of a cardboard map which had warped around till the upper edge wm almost circular. On this edge he would perch for hours, and twitter and call, but no other bird ever approached it Still another would always select the door casing and window cornices. Every bird has his chosen place for the night, usually the highest perch on the darkest side of the cage. They soon become accustomed to the situation of the dishes in their .cages, and plainly resent any change. On my placing a drinking cup in a new part of the cardinal’s residence, he came down at once, scolding violently, pretended to drink, then looked over to the comer where the water used to be, and renewed his protestations. Then he returned to the upper pereh, flirting his tail and expressing his mind with great vigor. A few minutes passed, and be repeated the performance, keeping it up with great excitement until, to pacify him, I replaced the cup. He at once retired to his usual seat, smoothed bis roughened plumage, and in a few moments began to sing. A dress ot new color on the r mistress makes great commotion among these close observers, aud the moving about of furniture puts the the tamest one in a panic. —Atlantic Monthly.

An Anecdote of Admiral Foote. From an article on Admiral Foote and the gnu-boats, by James B. Eads, in the Ceutury. we quote the foilow;nq: “In the railway train a gentleman who sat in front of me, learning that I . had .constructed Foote’s vessels, introduced himself as Judge Foote, ot Cleveland, a brother of the Admiral. Among other interesting matters, he related an anecdote of one of bis little daughters who was just learning to read. After the capture of Fort Henry the squadron was brought back to Cairo for repairs, and, on the Sunday following, the crews, with their gallant flag-officer, attended one of the churches in Cairo. Admiral Foote was a thorough Christian gentleman and excellent impromptu speaker. Upon this occasion, after the congregation had assembled, some one whispered to hun that the minister was ill and would be unable to officiate; whereupon the Admiral went up to the pulpit himself, and after the usual prayer aud hymn, he selected as the text John xiv.. 1, ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me,' .Upon this text he delivered what was declared to be an excellent sermon, or exhortation, after which he dismissed the congregation. An account of the sermon jras widely published m the papers at the time, and eame into the bands of his little niece just referred to. After she had read it she exclaimed tc her father; ‘“Uncle Foote did not say that right* ■“Say what right?* asked the lather. " ‘Why, when he preached.* “ Wbat did be say?* “‘He said, 'Let not your heart lie troubled: ye believe in God, believe also io me.’ ** ‘Well, what should he have said t inquired the father. ti " ‘Well, be ought to have said, ‘Let not your heart be troubled - : ye believe in God,believe also in the g-un-boat*.' *