A WINTER BIRD-STUDY. 45 



hour at a time. The same thing occurs in the 

 dim light of early morning, with so much vio- 

 lence and noise that I am obliged to remove his 

 cage to a dark room where daylight comes only 

 when the door is opened. 



The timidity of this bird is shown also in his 

 manner of examining a strange object. If on 

 the floor, he will hop around it at a respectful 

 distance, viewing it from every side. For a 

 long time he will not approach, and when he 

 does, it is with the greatest caution, prepared 

 for instant flight if it develops unexpected hos- 

 tility. I once threw on the floor a small ball of 

 yarn with the end unwound about four inches 

 and fastened in that position. The thrush is 

 exceedingly fond of a string, and this one was 

 attractive. He hopped around it with interest, 

 gradually drew nearer, and after some time ven- 

 tured to take hold of it. He was evidently not 

 yet satisfied about the nature of the ball, and 

 intended to drag the string away from the sus- 

 picious neighborhood. Accordingl}^ he gave it 

 a jerk, when to his horror the ball bounded to- 

 wards him. The suddenness with which be 

 dropped it and disappeared in the furthest cor- 

 ner under the bed was laughable. In spite of 

 this experience, the string was irresistible, and 

 in a few moments he returned. Again and 

 again he tried to secure it, and again and again 



