122 American Birds 



beetles. One day when a fashionably-dressed lady was 

 being entertained on the front porch Jimmy suddenly ap- 

 peared and lit on her shoulder with a very large beetle. 

 The reception he got surprised him, for a bird thrusting 

 a big, ugly beetle in her face was too much for the lady, 

 and she threw up her hands in horror and fled, while 

 Jimmy sat looking in amazement. 



The wicker-backed rocking-chair on the front porch 

 was a favorite of Jimmy's, for he could fasten his food in 

 the cracks of it. One day his mistress found a mouse that 

 he had left there, very likely with the intention of call- 

 ing for it when he got hungry. By watching the various 

 kinds of food that Jimmy brought in, we readily estimated 

 that his hunts were of much more good than harm. Even 

 the wild shrike that kills a small bird occasionally kills 

 more than enough harmful insects to make up for its de- 

 struction. 



As the winter passed and spring wore on, Jimmy ex- 

 tended his visits. He must have looked and hunted far- 

 ther away, for often he would be gone for half a day at 

 a time. But he always returned to the eucalyptus bough 

 on the back porch, and the door was always open for him 

 and closed when he was in bed. Then one day in March 

 he did not return. But he got back next morning about 

 ten o'clock, and came pecking and crying at the window. 

 He seemed overjoyed to get back, but, after staying about 

 for a while, he got restless. It was evident that there was 

 an influence somewhere out beyond the sage-brush that 

 was stronger than his home life. Something else was call- 

 ing him. It was only a matter of time till he would cease 

 to sleep on the porch. 



