ash] THE ORIOLE 389 



newspaper! and after she had finished that exercise she pecked 

 holes in the brightest spots. Along with all her other accomplish- 

 ments is a keen sense of color. 



Did anyone ever hear of a bird having manners! A playful 

 tug at the sleeve or an alighting on the hand or foot is her way of 

 giving thanks. 



Observe her eat a piece of bread. She first thrusts her bill into 

 it, and then by forcing it open breaks the bread into bits; with her 

 lance-like tongue she draws the crumbs into her mouth. Here 

 comes along Mr. Grasshopper, quick as a flash he is seized and held 

 a victim with those sharp, curved claws, in a moment all that 

 is left of him are the hard parts of the heads and legs. 



Do you wonder how she will ever be able to form a nest like 

 the one we saw yesterday hanging from the elm twig in the grove ? 

 If you do, examine her set of tools and consider her intelligence. 



Five weeks have passed by since Tee Dee came to live with us 

 and she is no longer a birdlet in down dress but has changed that 

 for one of green and gold feathers and she is almost as large as her 

 mother; she can feed herself also, why not free her? It takes but 

 a moment to open the cage door and she flies about the yard 

 searching for insects; that old apple tree attracts her attention 

 and she stays there awhile, but she tires and takes a long sun-bath 

 on top of the arbor. She becomes hungry and comes to the door 

 begging for food, then away she flies and soon is on the ground. 

 There is Tabby, "Tee Dee," Miss Mary calls; "tweet" answers 

 the little bird and flies to the porch and is saved. It is plain to 

 be seen that she is not yet old enough to take care of herself and 

 she spends another fortnight with her friend. 



September is almost here, the lanes are decorated with asters 

 and golden-rod ready for her approach and a cricket which belongs 

 to her orchestra spent the hours of last night tuning up his pipes 

 and cold winds have driven the birds silent to sheltered nooks; 

 yes, it is time for Tee Dee to go. 



Early in the morning she is carried to a fine old pasture a mile 

 from the house and again set free; she flies into a cluster of 

 bushes and is lost to view. What bird would not be pleased with 

 such a bower! Good-bye, dear little one, may you enjoy your 

 short life! O yes, Tee Dee is sadly missed, but it is best that 

 she should live out of doors. Late in the afternoon, Miss Mary 

 walks in the direction of the pasture but before she reaches it 



