Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-08-17
STUDY OF A cAT.BIRD.


STUDY OF A CAT-BIRD.
For more than eight months a cat
bird has lived in my house, passing his
days In freedom in the room where ! SIT
at work. aud his nights in cage not
six feet from my head.
Having spent summer in watching
his ways in his home. and acquiring q
proper respect for his intelligence, |
now wished to test him under new con-
tlitions, 20 see how he would adapt him
self TO our home, and | found the study
one Of the most absorbing interest.
He had been Gagged few weeks only,
but he was not at all wild, and he soon
grew so accustomed to my silent pres
ence that, unless spoke, or looked at
him, he paid no attention to me. BY
means Of small mirror and an opera
glass Twas able to watch him closely in
any part of the room, when he thought
himself unobserYed
To the loving student of bird ways
his feathered friends differ in character,
as do his human ones. My cat-bird is q
decided character, with more intelli-
gence than any other bird have OBJ
served. The first trait | noticed, and
perhaps the strongest, was curiosity.
1t was extremely interesting to see him
make acquaintance with my room, the
first he had ever been free to inyesti-
gate.
Usually with birds long Gagged it is
at first hard to induce them to come
out. / have been obliged actually to
starve them TO it, placing food and
water outside, and repeating it for
many days, before they would come out
freely and not be frightened. Not so
with the cat-bird. The moment he
found that certain perch had just
put into his cage led into the room
through the open door, he ran out upon
it and stood at the end, surveying his
new territory.
Up and down. and on every side he
looked, excited, as the quick jerks of
his expressive tail said plainly, but
not in the least alarmed. Then he took
wing, flew around and around several
times, and at last, as all birds do, came
full speed against the window, and fell
to the floor. There he stood, painting
| spoke to him. but did not startle him
by movement; and in few minutes he
recovered his breath, and flew again,
several times, around the room.
As soon as he became accustomed to
using his wings and learned, as he did
at about the second attempt, that there
was solid reason why he could not
ily to the trees he could see so plainly
outside the window, he proceeded to
study the peculiarities of the enew world
he found himselfin He ran and hoped
all over the floor, into every corner;
tried in vain to dig into it, and to pick
up the small stripes on it. (The floor
was covered with matting.) That be-
ing thoroughly explored the lines of
junction Of the breadths and the heads
of the tacks, the dark mysteries of far
under the bed and the queer retreat be-
hind the desk-he turned his attention
to the ceiling. Around and around he
flew slowly, lowering just under it, and
touching it every moment with his bill,
till that was fully understood to be far
other than the blue sky, and not pene-
trable. Once having made up his mind
about anything, it was never noticed
again.
The windows next came under OBJ
servation, and those proved to be
long problem. He would walk back
and forth on the top of the lower sash,
touching the glass constantly with his
bill, or stand and gaze at the pigeons
and sparrows, and other objects out
side; taking the liveliest interest
in their doings. and now and
then gently tapping, as if he
could not understand why it was i'm
possible to join them. If it had not
been winter, his evident longing would
have opened windows for him; a pining
captive being too painful to afford any
pleasure.
But he soon became entirely content
ed and, having satisfied himself of the
nature of glass, seldom looked ont, un-
less something of unusual interest at
tracted his attention: a noisy dispute in
the sparrow family, trouble among the |
children Of the next yard. or a snow
storm. which latter astonished and dis
turbed him greatly, at first.
The furniture then underwent ex-
animation. Every chair round. every |
shelf, every table and book, every part |
Of the bed, except the white spread, Of /
which he always stood in awe, was
closely studied, and It's praciicability for
perching purposes decided upon. NV /
desk Is an ever fresh source of interest /
since is contents and arrangements
vary. The top Of a row Of books across
The back Is his regular promenade and /
Is cafpeied for his use with long strip I
Of paper. There be comes the first /
thing IN the morning. and peers over
he desk 10 see If / have anything for
him. or II any new object has arrived. |
Here he gels his BIT Of apple or raisin;
here meal worms are sometimes 10 Be |
had; and here be can stand on one foot
NIN y an Nll| AAANH-NAANIN VI nv IIEIs
which be does with great interest Oc-
rasionaily be finds an open drawer. into
which be delights TO q. and continue
biz explorations among posiage-stanps
md bits Of rubber. pencils and ether
mail things. which Re throws out on
BE 10or. with always tie possibility Of
discovering What i stiIl Al enirms 70
.im. . rubber band 10 carry Of for he
'rn use. as win explain further on
The uaIls and the furniture under.
TODD. BE- rroceedei with his stndiss 20
he objects on fhe table A mcdaniel
oF interested hin EreatlT. i moved
as'lT. and fht sind u his sing. aIirff-
rE ntsr j tie first tine. iozried il siii-
~ Ht turned inranilr. rn1zsd 10 sss
Ens d lts where be did nof erpsct