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Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 48

When reared by hand from the nest, the blackbiid is capable of forming strong attachments, and, from his wondertul imitative powers, will make himself a great favourite. He will, if trained when young, learn to whistle almost any tune that may be taught him. The best, and perhaps the quickest way, is to take him, when about six weeks or not later than two months old, to a quiet room away from any other bird, and in the evening and the first thing in the morning give him his lesson. The tune may be played on a flute or other wind instrument. It is advisable to feed him before commencing operations ; and some bribe or other, as, for instance, a lively worm, should be placed in hiß sight. Play over a portion of the tune you wish him to learn, and be will evidently pay particular attention to it. Repeat it, with precisely the same time and expression, say 20 times ; then give the bird a little quiet, so that he may, if he will, have an opportunity of imitating it. If he should make any attempt, instantly give him bis reward, coaxing and caressing him meanwhile. Being, for a bird, possessed of strong reasoning powers, he will soon discover why the worm or other bribe is given him, and will before long understand bow to earn it. When once learnt, the tune or tunes will never be forgotten, but pass, as ir were, into its song. It is rather a tedious undertaking, bat the result is Invariably satisfactory. A blackbird will also imitate other birds very minutely, and though there is little variety in his natural song, it is made up for by its pure fluterlike tone and fail volume. It most readily imitates the thrush, but it will catch many notes from the nightingale, to which bird its tone has most resemblance, were it not for the introduction of several harsh notes. When kept in confinement, it is always advisable to bring it up when young near to some good singing bird, as it will thereby learn its neighbour's song, and, intermixing the notes .with its own, make a most agreeable sob gat6r. Whenever the weather permits, place the bird out in the sun, and he will repay all the care bestowed upon him by bis keeper. He is net dismayed, however, by damp weather, as it is invariably after a shower that his soug is blithest, and during the hottest days of summer he should be well shaded and kept cool, as in very dry weather his song seems to depart, lie will begin to eiDg early in the spring, and will continue until the autumn, it the summer be not too hot. He is sometimes rather- eccentric in his choi.e of subjects for imitation, one having been known to imitate very correctly the crowing of a cock, which he would mix up in his song in rather a ludicrous manter. —From Ca&seil's "Canaiies and CageBirdß."

Bibds' Revenge.— A curious instance, in which a robin was the victim of a bird's revenge, occurred sonfe little time ago. A pbcebe bird had built her nest under the piazza of a country house, and for many years had occupied the spot unharmed. One spritg, however, a robin arrived before the lawful owner, and not only took possession of the nest, but declined to retire from it. A quarrel, of course, ensued, but no notice was taken of the circumstance till autumn, when the peculiar shape of the neat attracted attention. It was found to be a double nest, one built above the other, and in the lower one lsy the body of the dead robin. The ptoeb3 bird had constructed a fresh nest, and completely entombed the rash but unfortunate robin. Robins figure very frequently in ihese nest-building curiosities. A pair of the-e favourite birds built their nest on the top of an organ in a country church. Another church organ was temporarily disabled till the obstruction, a bird's nest (found in one of the pipeß), was ' removed. The clock of a third church was 1 completely stopped through a s wallow building a nest in Its centie. Feathered archi-

tects of thin, frail dwellings are oftener rather eccentric than fastidious in their choice of building sites. The flue of a church, for example, does not sound a very inviting, though it may prove a pretty secure, situation. A strange thing happened in connection with this selection, for the fumes of a coke fire, obstructed by this nest, found their way into the interior of the sacred edifice during service, and overpowered some of the congregation. Some birds, such as house-sparrows, swallows, and martins, frequently use the old nest again. There is a case on record in which a hole was inhabited by a pair of woodpeckers, or their defcendants, for 30 years at a stretch. Among extraordinary sites for feathered builders may be instanced the hands of statues, tin cane, pump-spouts, old shoe?, hats, bags, lanterns, and, strarge irony of fate, scarecrows ; and, in one case, even a bottle. But as uncommon a choice of habitation as any was one made by a wreD, which builb its nest in the body of a dead hawk nailed to a barn.

When Most to bh Dbeaded.— The author of " Five Years' Hunting in Africa " says that the lion is never so much to be dreaded as when bis partner has email young ones. Then he knows no fear, and in the coolest and most intrepid manner will face a thousand men. A remarkable instance of this kind came under the author's own observation. "One day," he sayp, "when elephant hunting in the ' Baseleka ' territory, accompanied by 250 mcD, I was astonished suddenly to behold a majestic lion slowly and steadily advancing towards us, with a dignified step dnd undaunted bearing. Lashing his tail from side to side and growling haughtily, he fixed his terrible eyes uporrus, and displayed a store of ivory well calculated to inspire terror among the timid natives. A headlong flight of the 250 men was the immediate result, and in the confusion of the moment four couples "of my dogs were allowed to escape. These instantly facsd the lion, who, finding that by his bold bearing he had put his enemies to flight, now became solicitous for the safety of his little family, with which the lioness was retreating in the background. Facing about he followed them with an independent step, growling fiercely at the dogs, which trotted along on either side of him. As my natives had all deserted me, I considered it unwise to interfere with his departure, and calling back the dogs, saw the last of this king of the forest without regret."