A WINTER BIRD-STUDY. 47 



joy of babyhood is an absolute terror to him, as 

 I discovered quite by accident. While engaged 

 in dressing one for a little friend, I observed 

 that the bird was uneasy, and did not come near 

 me as usual, but did not suspect the cause till he 

 flew up to my desk, as was his constant habit, 

 to receive his bit of bread from my hands. The 

 doll was lying there, and the instant he saw it 

 (before his feet had touched the desk), he flew 

 violently away, uttering his loudest " Chook ! 

 chook ! chook ! " and took refuge in his cage, 

 where he stood, flirting wings and tail in great 

 excitement for ten minutes or more. I could 

 not believe the doll had occasioned the panic, 

 so when he had become quiet, I lifted it up and 

 turned it towards him, ten or twelve feet away. 

 He at once began jumping back and forth with 

 the same agitation, and after further tests I was 

 forced to conclude that he did not admire a doll. 



Wishing to see how the bird would receive 

 an animal, I placed on the floor a candy box, 

 which was a very good imitation of an alliga- 

 tor a foot long. But I was not gratified by any 

 display of interest or fear. He simply gave it 

 the widest berth which the room would admit, 

 and absolutely refused to " interview " the 

 young monster. 



Timid though he be, the thrush is inquisitive. 

 He examines everything with close attention, 



