Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-08-16

| and bits OF rubber, pencils ana other
small things, which he throws out on
the floor, with always the possibility of
discovering what is still an enigma to
him, rubber band to carry off for his
own use, as will explain further ON.
The walls and the furniture under
stood, he proceeded with his studies to
the objects on the table: A mechanical
toy interested him greatly. 1t moved
easily, and the wind of his wing, alight-
ing near it the first time, joggied it a lit
tie. He turned instantly, amazed to see
signs of life where he did not expect
them. For moment he stood crouched,
ready for flight if the thing should make
hostile demonstrations. Seeing it re-
main still. he touched it gently with his
bill. The toy moved, and he sprung
back. In a moment it was still, and
he tried again: and he did not leave it
till he had fully exhausted its POSSIBLE
ties in the way Of motion.
At another time he saw his bath-tub,
a tin dish, standing upon pitcher. He
alighted on the edge. 1t was so poised
that it shook and ratified. The bird
flew in panic to the top of cornice.
his usual place of refuge, and closely
watched the pan while it Jared back
and forth several times. Apparently
seeing that it was harmless motion.
he again flew down to the same spot;
and.the rattle and shake did not drive
him away till he had seen if there was
still drop of water left for him in the
bottom of the dish.
One day, in his travels about the
floor, he found marble. 1t was too
large to take up in his mouth, 80 he
tried to stab it, as he does a grape.
The first peck he gave sent it rolling
off, and he hastily retreated to the cor
nice: When it stopped he returned and
tried it again. This time it sprang to-
ward him. He gave one great leap and
then, ashamed of his fright, stood and
!, waited for it to be still. Again and
: again he tried to pierce the marble, till
cable, when he abandoned it for ever.
There is one mystery in the room
not yet penetrated. though it is a sub
ject of the deepest longing: it is my
waste-basket; the contents are so varied
and so attractiye. He will stand on the
edge. hop all around it, and view it
from every side but it is so deep and
narrow that he evidently does not dare
to venture further. Every day he goes
to the edge, and gazes sadly and ear
nestly, but is never satisfied.
This interest in my dOings is always
intense, and at every fresh movement
he will come down to the corner nearest
me, if in his cage, or alight on the back
>f, ln.l 1t
closest attention. One thing that'seems
to amaze and confound him is my APP
pearance in a different dress. ''What
sort of monster is this" his
manner will say, (Which can change its
feathers so rapidly and 50 often 20
If want him to 90 into his cage or
any part Of the room, [ need only 90
there myself and put some little thing
| there, or even appear to do so; and as
i soon as l leave he will rush over to see
what have done.
Next to his curiosity is his love OF
teasing> The subject furnishing oppor-
tunity for display of this quality is
cardinal grosbeak, which cannot be
coaXed to leave his cage. The latter is
the older resident and he did not re-
ceive the cat-bird very cordially. In
fact, he grew cross from the day the
latter arrived, and snarled and scOlded
every time he came near. The cat-bird
soon found out that his enemy never
left the cage, and since then has consid.
cred the cardinal fit inject for annoy.
ance. He will alight on the cardinals
cage, driving him nearl V frantic; he
will stand on shelf near the cage, look
in, and try to get ut the food dish-al
of which is in the highest degree often.
sive, and calls forth. violent scolds and
screams of rage. Finally, he will steal
grape or bit of. fruit stuck between
the wires, when the cardinal will fairly
blaze with wrath. At one time the
cat-bird indulged in promenades across
the top of the cage, until the eXasper-
ated resident resorted to severe meas.
ures, and by nipping his toes succeeded
in convincing his tormentor that the
top of his house was not a public high.
way.
Worse than all his otherlmisdeeds,
however, was deliberate insult he paid
to the cardinals singing. This ardent
musician fNas one day sitting down or
his perch. as he is fond of doing, and
singing away for dear life, when the cat.
bird alighted on the window-sash, close
by the cage. The singer kept his eye
on him. but proceeded with the music
till the end of the strain, when, as usual,
he paused. At that instant the cat-bird
gave his tail one upward jerk, as if tc
say: Humph!' l noticed the insult,
ing air, but was surprised to see that
the cardinal appreciated it also. He
began again at once, in much louder
tone, rising to his feet-which he rarely
does-lifting his crest, swaying back
and forth in perfect rage, glaring al
his enemy, and pouring out his usual
song in such flood of shrieks and call,
that even the calm cat-bird was dis
turbed, and discreetly retired to the OPP.
posite window. Then the cardinal seat.
ed himself again, and stopped his song,
but gave vent to his Indignation in 8
most energetic series of sharp "tsips y
for q long time.
Quite different is the cath rd's treat.
ment of two English goldtinches. Or
them he plays jokes, and his mschiev'
Gus delight and his chuckling at theil
success are plain to- see. One Of them
.. Chip. by name--knows that when he
is in his cage. with the door shut, he is
safe. and nothing the cat-bird can dc
disturbs him in the least; but the
other hipee-is, just as fustered ant
panic-stricken in her cage as out. and
the greatest pleasure of his life is tt