106 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



chievous one. His desire for wealth and laid up treasure was a very human 

 one, and perhaps no more dishonestly shown than by many members of the 

 human race. And like some among them, he showed his lovable traits most 

 often to the ladies. If one of his feminine friends was sewing or knitting, 

 he would alight near her or in her lap, and with grave and preternatural in- 

 tentness, watch the work, asking many questions in his gentlest voice, and 

 occasionally catching a thread to draw it for her. 



A number of art students sketched in the woods about his home that sum- 

 mer, and Jim became quite a connoisseur. He would sit on a branch over- 

 head, closely scanning every line or brush-mark, now and then bestowing a 

 gentle word of criticism or approval, and regarding all such properties as 

 brushes, pastels, paint-tubes, etc., with a wary eye which betokened an ul- 

 terior motive. From the box of a water-colorist, he one day secured a small 

 sponge, which was recovered, however, as he charitably bestowed it in the 

 yard of a neighbor at some distance. Like many other thieves, he deeply 

 resented any reflections upon his honesty, and when the owner of a particu- 

 larlv attractive pastel box had "shoo-ed" him away fiercely for the fourth 

 time, he walked off with an air of the most virtuous scorn, loudly and con- 

 temptuously assuring her that her miserable pastels were not worth a mo- 

 ment's notice from him. 



The most remarkable example of his hopeful intelligence occurred when 

 one day a very old lady, to whom he had become attached, as she never tried 

 to interfere with his movements, was braiding a straw basket. Jim flew to 

 her knee and watched her work with profound attention, occasionally ques- 

 tioning her softly, and lifting the braids and the straws to examine them. 

 Suddenly, he seemed to comprehend the situation. She was building a nest! 

 Away lie flew to the woods and out of sight, but very soon returned, proudly 

 carrying a small stick. This he held out to her and gently urged upon her 

 by pretty movements and coaxing notes. A bystander tried to take it, but he 

 angrily resisted, calling names no gentleman likes to be called. Very grace- 

 fully and proudly he gave it to the old lady, however, chuckling and gurg- 

 ling in his sweetest manner, and remaining to watch the disposition of his 

 gift. When she laid it down, unused, he scolded mildly and again urged it 

 upon her. But by and by he gave it up and went away, talking to himself, 

 evidently saying. "What stupid nest builders these featherless bipeds are!" 



Jim Crow's confidence in the good intentions of the human family in- 

 creased. Though they might be too familiar with his person, and too fond 

 of their own things, and their own ways, he must have felt that everyone re- 

 garded him as a friend. And without fear as a check to his curiosity, that 

 quality grew apace. And at last these very things led to his untimely fate. 



Two of those ardent young sportsmen who occasionally come out from the 



