ii6 Bird -Lore 



noon of the sixth 1 looked out to see my bird sitting on a dead limb of a near- 

 by tree in a most conspicuous position. I ran to the door calling him by name. 

 He twisted his head in adoring fashion and then squealed for food. I gave it 

 to him, and he flew out of sight. A little later I found him hiding in the tall 

 grasses below the house and, offering him a big piece of beefsteak, of which he 

 was especially fond, his hunger overcame his caution and he dashed down at 

 my feet where I held the meat. Before he had time to seize it, I grasped him 

 by the wing near his body. To my surprise he did not struggle much but looked 

 up at me appealingly and yet fearlessly, and submitted to being carried back 

 to his shed without protest. Once inside, he shook himself vigorously several 

 times, peered about inquiringly, yawned, and then mounted his perch to preen 

 himself. The days that followed upon this taste of liberty were marked by 

 playfulness and contentment, rather than by the restlessness which I had 

 expected. His appetite was larger than ever, and the bodies of two Sharp- 



. shinned Hawks that I had secured were greedily devoured, one at a meal. He 

 waxed stronger and more beautiful. His six days in the open had seemed to 

 give a darker hue to his plumage and more sprightliness to his manner. Know- 

 ing that I must provide for his comfort for the winter, I had spoken for a place 

 in the new aviary in the Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, but determined to keep 

 him as long as possible. Each day he seemed a little more precious and harder 

 to relinquish. On the morning of November 5, there was bright sunshine and 

 a high wind. As usual I went to feed Johnny and, after doing so, opened up 



,the doors that he might have his sunbath. Again and again he spread and 

 napped his wings until he was lifted ofif his feet, and, having satisfied himself, 

 hopped down to play with me. He was as affectionate and playful as a kitten, 

 and his expression was mild and sweet. Suddenly without warning he bounded 

 to the roof and, with a hoarse, throaty croak, flew to his platform at the rear 

 of the shed, where a window gave him a wide outlook on the great hills and 

 the deep valley below. I divined his intention as he peered out. His eyes had 

 in them a narrowed look — craft and cunning were mirrored there. I knew it 

 was the wisest thing to leave him alone, so I quickly shut the doors while I went 

 for water for his bath. Coming back some time later, I found him sitting con- 

 tentedly on his perch and looking perfectly innocent, but, as I stooped down 

 to place the water, like a bolt he whizzed past me as I jumped for the doors. 

 I almost brought them together but saw that in doing so I should crush his 

 beautiful wing, and forebore. I felt confident that I could get him back, so 

 left him in the yard while I went for meat to tempt him. When he saw me 

 coming toward him, his wings lifted, the strong wind picked him up and he 

 flew in the direction of the woods but, as he heard my voice, alighted on a 

 steep hillside. I had followed him quickly and was not far from him. My 

 sister, hearing my calls, had come out to see what was happening, and was 

 also near at hand. As he saw us he ran toward us hesitatingly, and yet as if 

 held by^a power outside himself. Then he looked, with the far-away light in 



