104 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



While Jim recognized his hostess as a familiar comrade, he showed no 

 fear of other human beings. But in liberty alone lay his pursuit of happi- 

 ness, and he resented any attempt to curtail it or control his movements. He 

 very condescendingly acknowledged as equals all who spoke to him, by 

 promptly answering each remark and attempting to continue the conver- 

 sation. You always felt yourself at a disadvantage with him, as he seemed 

 to have the use of two languages to your one. If he did not understand all 

 you said, he never let you suspect it, and you could only blindly resent his 

 evident impudence in his own tongue, which seemed far better suited than 

 your own to vituperation and contemptuous rejoinder. 



Jim cherished no ill will; in fact, on the whole, he approved of the human 

 race. He would snuggle up to the feet or the gown of an acquaintance, and 

 gurgle to himself in a charming little way at times ; but if any one responded 

 to his advances by picking him up. ever so gently, or even stroking his back, 

 his dignity was aroused and he would "swear," bite and scratch like an 

 angry cat. After a long time, his accepted patroness found that there was 

 one portion of his sacred person which she could touch with impunity. If 

 she gently scratched the base of his cavernous beak, he would close his eyes 

 and cock his head sidewise, with a most beatific expression, for at least 

 twenty seconds. 



The first weeks of his life were spent in and about the house, where he 

 carefully studied, with general approval, the belongings of his hostess and 

 her husband, whom he had soon come to regard with favor, as one of her 

 properties. When it became necessary to turn a peach basket over him, or 

 shut him out of doors; his angry remonstrance was so appalling as to be 

 promptly successful. When old enough to begin to fly, the door of the 

 chicken coop, where he spent his nights, was left open. Soon he began to go 

 into the neighboring woods at nightfall, but no one was able to find out in 

 what tree he made his roosting place. On a few occasions, when the wind 

 was very high, lie was heard to come back in the night to the shelter of his 

 coop or the piazza window. Daylight always brought him back to the 

 door, clamoring for entrance and for breakfast. 



Later, he began to follow his-friends to the village, where he made many 

 new acquaintances, whose attentions he enjoyed, though he never tolerated 

 the slightest hint of patronage or superiority. In walking out with you, he 

 invariably followed on behind, like a little dog, until he tired of running, or 

 failed to keep up; then he would fly on ahead for a few rods and wait 

 gravely, or walk back to meet you. 



Soon Jim began calling, alone, on people at a distance, usually taking the 

 afternoon hours. Until it grew dark, he would stroll about the piazzas of his 

 acquaintances, but usually started home at nightfall. On one occasion, how- 



