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Show TRICK BIRDS OF HONG KONG Java Sparrows Taught to Perform Clever "Stunts" for the Benefit of Travelers. Tho famous Chinese conjuring birds aro Java sparrows. At stroel corners In Hong Kong sedate old Chlnoso may bo seen putting the birds through their tricks for the benefUpf strangers. Each bird cage has a sliding door, and Just outside this is a pack of little lit-tle card cases, each containing a picture, pic-ture, and a small, pot holding half a dozen grains of rice. When tho stranger, pursuant to the suggestion of the ownpr hands over tho necessary coin, this is placed with tho pnek of cards at the cage door. Then the owner will undo the fastening fasten-ing of tho door. The bird, eyeing the coin, then tho cards, then the coin again, as If ho thought his perfoim-anco perfoim-anco too cheaply valued, descend") from his porch, opens tho door with 1113 DcnK, nops oui, drawn a caru iium the pack and passes It to his master Ho receives in reward ono grnln of I rice. The man takes tho little plcturo from the case received from the bird and hands It to the stranger to Inspect. In-spect. Ho then returns It to tho case, nccompnnled by tho tiniest flat slip of bamboo, and shuffles tho caso up with tho rest of the pack The bird descends, selects a case and tho stranger opens It, to And It tho identical identi-cal ono containing tho bamboo. How can this be accounted for? Tho only possible way of explaining Is thnt i the bamboo slip Is slightly scented. |