Salt on a bird's tail (US 22)

[SRoweCanoe@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/26/2003 9:25:51 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
dve at kabelfoon.nl writes:
<<Isn't "putting salt on a bird's tail" a common phrase that already 
existed before Barks used it in this story? 

If so, where does this phrase come from? And what's the original 
thought behind it? (Why salt, for example?)>>

not so much a common phrase, but a widely believed folk story....
     if you can sneak up behind a bird and sprinkle salt on it's tail - you 
can capture it.

it was common useage by at least the 1840s
  (mentioned in a book by  sir walter scott), and probably 1700s if not 
earlier

steven rowe