Passed
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Description
20" (51 cm.) A round brass bird cage on a gilt wooden base encloses a scene of an entire bird family,all in natural plumage of scarlet and black. A brass ringlet at the top of the cage offers the options of either displaying the cage on a table or suspending the cage from overhead. Movements and Song. The larger father bird is perched on a brass bar and warbles his birdsong while turning his head,twittering his beak and fluttering his tail,presumably warding off predators. Meanwhile,the mother bird,perched on a twig,lowers her head intermittently to feed her young twin baby birds,who are nestled in a basket at the floor of the cage. In response,the young birds raise up,vying to grab the fare,with which the mother bird teases them. There are five vivid and realistic animations,and birdsong. Charles Bontems,circa 1885. A plaque with the maker's name is affixed to the underside of the cage.