HIS DEAREST DELIGHT. 233 



himself in training, and in a few days could bolt 

 a worm as quickly as anybody. Now it became 

 the object of his life to secure them all for him- 

 self. He was so quick in movement that he had 

 no difficulty in swooping down upon every one 

 that was put out, before more leisurely birds 

 had stirred a feather. When he was absolutely 

 incapable of swallowing another, he continued 

 to seize them, kill them by a bite, and drop them 

 on the floor. Nobody cared for dead worms, 

 and thus the selfish fellow managed, as long as 

 he was allowed, to deprive every bird in the 

 room of his share. The remedy was simple : 

 his door was closed till the other birds had 

 eaten, and he pranced back and forth before it, 

 actually squealing with rage, while they disposed 

 of the dainties in their own natural way. 



The dearest delight of this bird, however, was 

 one which no other in the room shared, — catch- 

 ing flies. Observing that he tried to get one on 

 the outside of the window-frame, I thought I 

 would indulge him ; so the next morning, before 

 the cages were opened, I raised the windows. 

 As I anticipated, two or three flies came in. 

 The oriole saw them in an instant, and was 

 frantic to get out. When his door was unclosed 

 he at once gave chase, and never rested till every 

 fly was caught and eaten. He hunted them up 

 and down the windows with great eagerness, but 



