Salt on a bird's tail (US 22)

[Daniel van Eijmeren]

STEVEN ROWE to me, 26-11-2003:

>> 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.

No! You ain't kidding! Or could it be that you coincidentally are a 
"BIG machine that can answer ANY question", or something? :-)

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

Are there websites which have investigated this folk story of sprinkling 
salt on a bird's tail? That trick doesn't really work, does it?

--- Daniël  <- in shock

"Well, if you want to check it out, ASK THE BIRD!"