232 ORIOLE INCOMPATIBILITY. 



from cage to cage, pulling over the food-supply, 

 and selecting dainty bits for his own delectation. 

 Naturally, he had many encounters with insulted 

 proprietors, and some narrow escapes from a 

 pecking; but he accepted these little episodes 

 in the spirit of the tramp, regularly poached 

 upon his neighbors, and nothing would keep him 

 out of others' cages, or convince him that his 

 own dish was as well supplied as any. The 

 truth is, he seemed to be devoured by a fear that 

 some one was better provisioned than he ; and 

 this feeling went so far that in the cage of a 

 seed-eater he ate seeds, though since he did not 

 take off the shells he was obliged to throw them 

 up in a ball somewhat later. Like many other 

 birds, the orioles were fond of huckleberries, 

 which they ate daintily, driving their sharp 

 beaks into a berry, and holding it under one toe 

 while they neatly extracted the pulp, thrusting 

 far out their long white tongues in the opera- 

 tion. 



Meal-worms — the choice morsels of the bird- 

 room — came near driving the oriole wild. It 

 was natural for him to take one under his toe, 

 and pull off small bits till all was eaten, but his 

 greed made this way very distasteful. How 

 could he be satisfied with a slow manner, while 

 thrushes and bluebirds took one at a gulj), and 

 were ready for more ? He could not ; he put 



