The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-07

n1mself, evidently with the desire OF TAX |
ing up his residence there. He was go
gentle and unobtrusive everywhere that |
no one resented his presence in the cage
and he could have lived in peace with
almost any bird. But wanted him con-
tented at home, and, moreover, was Gu
rious to find out what was amiss, so 1
tried the experiment of removing his
cage from it's position next to the lively
orioles, and hanging it alone between two
windows, where, although not 30 light, it
had the advantage of solitude. The
change completed the happiness of
the grosbeak. From that day he no
more intruded upon oilers, but went
and came freely and ioyously to his own
cage and from being hard to catch at
night, he became one of the most easy,
| proceeding the moment he entered his
home toward dark to the upper perch, to
wait for me to close the door before 60
ing to his seed dish. In fact, he grew 80
contented that he cared little to come
out, and often sat II his favorite corner
of the cage by the hour, with the door
wide open, and the other birds flying
around. Now, too, he began to sing in
sweet voice a very low and tender minor
strain.
Among bis other peculiarities this bird
scarcely ever seemed to feel the need of
utterance Of any sort. On the rare occs-
sions Of any excitement, he delivered
sharp metallic "click;" sudden alarm
like the attack of another bird, called
out war-cry loud and shrill, and very
odd; and in the contest over the import
ant question of precedence at the bath
he sometimes uttered a droll squeal
or whining sound. Besides these, he
made singular noises in bathing and
dressing his feathers, which are not I'M
common among birds, but are diffio
to describe. They always remind me of
the rubbing of machinery in need of oil.
This beautiful bird was not easily
seriously disturbed was at the sight of a
stuffed screech-owl which brought into
the room without thinking of it's prob
able effect. placed it on shelf in the
closet, and I soon noticed the moment
the closet door was opened the gros-
beak became greatly agitated; he dart
ed across the room to q certain re-
treat where he always hurried on the
first alarm of any sort, and remained in
retirement till the fancied danger was
over, while the others few madly about.
In this place he stood, posturing in much
excitement, and uttering at short inter
walls his sharp "click." For some time I
did not understand his conduct, nor
think of connecting it with the Iowl on
the shelf; but when it did occur to me
tried the experiment of bringing it out
into the room, when I Immediately saw
what I should have remembered at once,
that it was an object Of terror to all Of
the birds.
The song of the rose breasted grosbesk
is celebrated, and hoped my bird would
become acquainted with us and let out
his voice; but was disappointed in both
respects, for he never became familiar in
the least, and though not at all afraid
he was very shy; and furthermore, upon
my bringing into the room two small
musical thrushes, the grosbeak-feeling
as I said, no need of utterance readily
relspsed into silence, and all winter new
or sang a note. His conduct before the
looking glass indicated that he was not
J naturally so silent, and thss he could be
social with one who understood his Ian
guage. Being unable to get another
grosbeak tried to give him companion
ship by placing small glass against one
end OF his cage. On seeing his reflection
the bird WAS greatly sgitated, began his
low, whining cry, postured, bowed,
turned, moved back and forth, and at
last left the cage and looked for the
stranger behind the glass. Not finding
him he returned, had another interview
with the misleading image, and end
ed as before in seeking him outside. at
length he seemed to be convinced that
there was something not quite natural
about it, for, feeling hungry, he went,
with many backward glance at the
glass to the floor, took hemp seed, and
carried it out into the room to eat,
thing he never did at any other time.
I spoke of my birds posturing; that
was one of his pleasures, and almost his
only exercise while he lived in the house.
He was not graceful, his body was not
flexible and his tail was far from be-
ing the expressive member it is with
many birds, it always stood straight out;
he could raise it with little jerk, and he
had beautiful way Of opening it like
fan, bat I never saw it droop or stir in
any other way. In these movements,
his head and tail maintained the same
relative position to the body, as though
they were cut out of one piece of wood;
but he bowed, and leaned far over on
one side, with his short legs wide spread;
he passed down perch alternately
crouching and rising, either sideways or
straight: he jerked his whole body one
side and then the other, in manner lu-
dicrously suggestive of a wriggle; he
sided along his perch, holding his wings
slightly out and qaivering, then slowly
raised them both straight u p, and instant
ly dropped them, or held them half open,
1