"Thy spangled breast bright sprinkled specks adorn,
Each plume imbibes the rosy-tinted morn."
"Sit down, Frank," said I; "my wife and Ida will be here presently. It
is so pleasant to have tea out of doors."
"Yes," said Frank, "especially such tea as this. But," he added,
fishing a flower-spray from his cup with his spoon, "I do not want
jasmine in mine."
"Good wine needs no bush," I remarked.
"Nor good tea no scent," said my friend.
"Although, Frank, the Chinese do scent some of their Souchongs with
jasmine, the _Jasminum Sambuc_."
"Oh! dear uncle," cried Ida, "don't talk Latin. Maggie the magpie will
be doing it next."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the pie called Maggie, who was very busy in the
bottom of her cage. I never, by the way, heard any bird or human being
laugh in such a cuttingly tantalising way as that magpie did.
It was a sneering laugh, which made you feel that the remark you had
just made previously was ridiculously absurd. As she laughed she kept
on pegging away at whatever she was doing.
"Go on," she seemed to say. "I am listening to all you are saying, but
I really can't help laughing, even with my mouth full. Ha! ha! ha!"
"Well, Ida dear," I said, "I certainly shall not talk Latin if there be
the slightest chance of that impudent bird catching it up. Is this
better?
"`My slight and slender jasmine tree,
That bloomest on my border tower,
Thou art more dearly loved by me
Than all the wealth of fairy bower.
I ask not, while I near thee dwell,
Arabia's spice or Syria's rose;
Thy light festoons more freshly smell,
Thy virgin white more freshly glows.'"
"And now," said my wife, "what about the story?"
"Yes, tea and a tale," cried Frank.
"Do you know," I replied, "that the starling is the best of all talking
pets? And I do wonder why people don't keep them more often than they
do?"
"They are difficult to rear, are they not?"
"Somewhat, Frank, when young, as my story will show."
"These," I continued, "are some kindly directions I have written about
the treatment of these charming birds."
"Dear me!" cried the magpie.
"Hold your tongue, Maggie," I said, "or you'll go into the house, cage
and all."
Maggie laughed sneeringly, and all throughout the story she kept
interrupting me with impudent remarks, which quite spoiled the effect of
my eloquence.
_The Starling's Cage_.--This should be as large and as roomy as
possible, or else the bird will break his tail and lose other feathers,
to the great detriment of his plumage and beauty. The cage may be a
wicker-work one, or simply wire, but the bars must not be too wide.
However much liberty you allow Master Dick in your presence, during your
absence it will generally be as well to have him inside his
dwelling-place; let the fastening of its door, then, be one which he
cannot pick. Any ordinary wire fastening is of no use; the starling
will find the cue to it in a single day. Tin dishes for the bird's food
will be found best, and they must be well shipped, or else he will
speedily tear them down. A large porcelain water fountain should be
placed outside the cage; he will try to bathe even in this, and I hardly
know how it can be prevented. Starlings are very fond of splashing
about in the water, and ought to have a bath on the kitchen floor every
day, unless you give them a proper bathing cage. After the bath place
him in the sun or near the fire to dry and preen himself.
_Cleanliness_.--This is most essential. The cage and his feeding and
drinking utensils should be washed every day. The drawers beneath must
be taken out, cleaned, washed, and _dried_ before being put back, and a
little rough gravel scattered over the bottom of it. If you would wish
your bird to enjoy proper health--and without that he will never be a
good speaker or musician--keep all his surroundings dry and sweet, and
never leave yesterday's food for to-day's consumption.
_Food_.--Do not give the bird salt food, but a little of anything else
that is going can always be allowed him. Perhaps bread soaked in water,
the water squeezed out, and a little new milk poured over, forms the
best staple of diet. But, in addition to this, shreds of raw meat
should be given, garden worms, slugs, etc. Carry him round the room on
your finger, stopping when you see a fly on the wall or a picture-frame,
and holding the starling near it. He will thus soon learn to catch his
own flies, and take such delight in this kind of stalking that, as soon
as he can speak, he will pester you with his importunities to be thus
carried round.
White fish these birds are very fond of, and also fresh salmon. Fruit
should be given to them now and then, a fig being considered by them an
especial delicacy. A little chickweed or other green food is also
relished. This may be placed on the top of the cage. Finally
starlings, no matter how well you feed them, will not thrive without
plenty of exercise. The male bird is the better talker, and more active
and saucy, as well as more beautiful and graceful in shape and plumage.
Be assured the bird is very young before purchasing it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------