Dec. 1889.] 



AND OOLOOIST. 



183 



selves to tliese bugs. When I would retire to 

 the house for breakfast they would repair to 

 the flower garden and amuse themselves by 

 picking the flowers, which they would carry 

 and lay in symmetrical rows on the concrete 

 walk. I have sometimes seen three or four 

 dozen blossoms of the dialetra carefully picked 

 and arranged as if done by some child. They 

 never destroyed tlie flowers and picked but 

 one blossom at a time. It often led me to 

 wonder if tliey have a similar taste when in 

 their wild state? 



We were at first in fear that the numerous 

 cats M'ould make short work of them, but such 

 fears were soon quelled. Woe to Thomas 

 when he crossed the line. The first appear- 

 ance of pussy was a signal for an onslaught 

 that would do credit to a Turk. Many a time 

 I watched the demonstration with amusement. 

 Pussy would evidently be taken by surprise 

 and seemed inclined to stanil his ground; .Jack 

 and Spot would start for him, flapping their 

 wings and cawing loudly, and without the 

 least hesitation would pitch in. If pussy hesi- 

 tated there would be a rough and tumble with 

 claws and beaks; it would be entirely one- 

 sided, pussy offering no resistance and beating 

 a hasty retreat, leaving bunches of fur torn 

 from his back. Anotlier object for attack was 

 the feet of my bai-efoot(!d companions; they 

 had the advantage and seemed to realize it. 

 I of course would not allow my pets to be hurt 

 and it was simply, get toes under cover. Let 

 me say just here that they can bite right 

 "smart,'" when they took hold to pull away 

 generally meant tliat the tip of the bill would 

 bring the meat with it. Tliey never showed 

 any disposition to peck at hands or face and 

 they never in any way pecked at me. 



One day I noticed both engaged in picking 

 up small stones which they would carry and 

 drop into a hole that had been dug for a post. 

 Upon examination I found that tliere was a 

 toad in the bottom, upon which they were 

 dropping the pebbles. Each time a drop was 

 made they would caw in high glee; it was a 

 clear case of amusement. They were experts 

 at playing catch. I would pick grapes and toss 

 to them and they would seldom fail to catch, 

 jumping for them when thrown too high. 



On our wash-house were two boxes occupied 

 by Swallows. When they had no other en- 

 gagements on hand they would percli on these 

 boxes for hours at a time, standing guard to 

 keep the swallows away. Black was a very ir- 

 ritating color to them. It afforded a great 

 deal of amusement to us to throw a black hat 



on the ground and watch the result; both 

 would commence a walk round. Beginning 

 with a twelve-foot circle they would gradually 

 close in, all the time making a noisy demon- 

 stration, and at the finish would attack the 

 despised object. 



Tliey in many ways showed marked signs of 

 affection, and I never knew them to quarrel 

 (except over squash bugs). If one found any 

 food he would always make it known to the 

 other. They were always together, and would 

 play like kittens. Each knew his name and 

 when I spoke to them would answer. 



I had heard that if their tongues were split 

 they would talk. I could find no one who 

 knew about the matter, so concluded to try 

 tlie experiment myself. I cut the cord on the 

 under part of the tongue so as to allow them a 

 1 free swing (not splitting). They did not seem 

 j to mind the operation but as soon as performed 

 I they both marched about with beaks opened 

 and kept shaking their heads. I never suc- 

 I ceeded in getting them to articulate a woi'd 

 I but certainly tliere was a change in their tone. 

 At times when a short distance off, they 

 i sounded like a lot of children jabbering and 

 laughing, and from that day their "song" at- 

 tracted the attention of the neigiibors. 



I never shall forget the first snow-storm they 

 experienced. They had been roosting in the 

 woodshed. As I opened the door both came 

 to the sill, neither would venture out. First 

 one would put out his foot, touch the snow 

 and quickly withdraw it; then the other would 

 try it, and then they would both scold. They 

 kept this up for some time and I began to 

 think that I should have to throw them out 

 myself. Finally one made the break, quickly 

 followed by the other, and then the fun com- 

 menced. They evidently did not like the feel- 

 ing to their feet but were otherwise delighted. 

 One would lie down and the other turn him 

 over. They would roll, flutter, squawk and 

 chase each other in high glee. When the snow 

 became deep I again resorted to meal for their 

 feed. And now comes the sad ending. When 

 they first began to walk they would go to the 

 gravel path and pick up small round stones. 

 These they would swallow, and after retaining 

 them for awhile would eject them, and I could 

 see these little piles of stones all over the 

 yard. They were evidently used as digesters, 

 and when discarded were held together by 

 refuse from the stomach. When the ground 

 was covered with snow they were unable to 

 obtain the stones. I neglected to look out for 

 this requirement, and one day in the early 



