210' THE SOLITAIRE. 



volume, with longer intervals between, till it be- 

 came so faint it could scarcely be heard, — a mere 

 murmur with closed bill, yet so remarkable and 

 so effective that for some time not a bird peeped. 

 Occasionally, while the room was quiet, he began 

 to sing ; but again it appeared that it was his 

 purpose merely to hush the babble of music, for, 

 having secured his beloved stillness, the beautiful 

 bird remained a long time at rest, sitting closely 

 on his perch, plainly in deep content and happi- 

 ness. Sometimes, when out in the room, he de- 

 livered the call with extraordinary excitement, 

 turning from side to side, posturing, flirting one 

 wing or both, lifting them quite high and bring- 

 ing them down sharply ; but when in the cage 

 at dusk — his favorite time — he stood, as I 

 said, motionless and without agitation. 



In another way my bird differed from nearly 

 all the feathered folk, and proved his right to 

 belong to the thrush family ; he was not in any 

 degree fussy ; he never hopped about aimlessly, 

 or to pass away time. He had not only a beau- 

 tiful repose of manner, but there was an air of 

 reticence in everything he did. Even in so 

 trivial a matter as eating, he was peculiar. 

 During the season he was always supplied with 

 huckleberries, of which he was exceedingly fond. 

 Any other bird would take his stand beside the 

 dish, and eat till he w^as satisfied; but quite 



