CHARACTER IN FEATHERS. 67 



shrike is a taciturn bird. If he were a politi- 

 cian, he would rely chiefly on what is known 

 as the " still hunt," although he too can scream 

 loudly enough on occasion. His most salient 

 trait is his impudence, but even that is of a 

 negative type. " Who are you," he says, 

 " that I should be at the trouble to insult 

 you ? " He has made a study of the value of 

 silence as an indication of contempt, and is al- 

 most human in his ability to stare straight by 

 a person whose presence it suits him to ignore. 

 His imperturbability is wonderful. Watch 

 him as closely as you please, you will never 

 discover what he is thinking about. Under- 

 take, for instance, now that the fellow is sing- 

 ing from the top of a small tree only a few rods 

 from where you are standing, — undertake to 

 settle the long dispute whether his notes are 

 designed to decoy small birds within his reach. 

 Those whistles and twitters, — hear them ! So 

 miscellaneous ! so different from anything which 

 would be expected from a bird of his size and 

 general disposition ! so very like the notes of 

 sparrows ! They must be imitative. You be- 

 gin to feel quite sure of it. But just at this 

 point the sounds cease, and you look up to dis- 

 cover that Collurio has fallen to preening his 

 feathers in the most listless manner imaginable. 

 " Look at me," he says ; " do I act like one on 



