XIII. 



INCOMPATIBILITY IN THE OKIOLE FAMILY. 



One whole year I entertained in my bird-room 

 an individual of strongly marked character, an 

 orchard oriole. Wishing to study his habits, I 

 put a pair of this species into a big cage, hoping 

 they would live happily, as did other couples in 

 the room at the same time. The pretty little 

 yellow and olive dame was amiable enough, — 

 she could live in peace with any bird in the 

 room ; but her comrade rebelled against the de- 

 crees of man. He was an autocrat ; he intended 

 to have his house to himself, and, more, he pur- 

 posed to appropriate any other residence he 

 chose to select, whoever might claim it. Hos- 

 tilities began the moment the door was shut upon 

 them ; he drove her away from the food-cup, he 

 fought her over the bathing-dish, he answered 

 her sweet call with a harsh " chack " or an insult- 

 ing " huff," he twitched her feathers if she came 

 near him, and gave her a peck if she seemed to 

 be having too easy a time. Withal, such was 

 his villainous temper that he desired a victim to 

 abuse, and never let her out of his sight for two 



