A GENTLE SPIRIT. 35 



The wood thrush was well settled and at 

 home in the Mexican's cage, when a mocking- 

 bird came to live in the room. Strange to say, 

 no sooner did the latter bird gain the freedom 

 of the place than he coolly made choice of the 

 thrush's second home for his own. The gentle 

 bird was not disturbed ; seeing how matters 

 stood with his new neighbor he quickly recon- 

 ciled himself to the mocking-bird's discarded 

 residence and was happy as ever. Now, after 

 many weeks, the mocking-bird will occupy 

 sometimes one, sometimes the other of the two 

 cages (which stand side by side), but the thrush 

 is always perfectly contented to accept either, 

 and make himself at home wherever he finds 

 an empty cage. 



I might think this cowardice — as I said — 

 but for his treatment of a little English gold- 

 finch, who is as saucy in this company of birds 

 five or six times as large as himself as though 

 his neighbors were of his own size. He does 

 not hesitate to alight beside the thrush, stand- 

 ing motionless in thrush fashion, on top of his 

 own cage. This conduct is not agreeable to 

 the proprietor ; he turns and looks at the puny 

 intruder, and then starts towards him, as a gen- 

 tle hint that his company is not desired in that 

 spot. The small bird not only refuses to move, 

 but actually begins to scold. The thrush draws 



