TYRANNUS VERTICALIS. 531 



the whole afternoon, Chip often not returning until near evening; we Ijorran 

 to fear that in consequence of this some hai-m might befall him while out of 

 our sight, or that some day he might foil to return at all; so, as the Ijest 

 means of preventing .siuh a misfortune, we determined to frighten the w ild 

 l)irds awa)^ when they should next make their appearance, and thus keep 

 Chip out of temptation. A favorable opportunity presented one afternoon 

 when three were sporting together at a considerable height near our camp; 

 and having just obsei-ved Chippy on his accustomed perch, brought out 

 our gun and fired at them. Fortunately none were hit, for one of them, 

 wJiich proved to be our pet, separated from the rest and flew in terror to 

 the camp, screaming with all Ids might. We hastened back, fearing he harl 

 been injured, and found liim perched upon a rope, terribly frightened, l)ut 

 not at all liurt. Ilis disregard for fireamis was now at an end, and when 

 'we approached him with gun in hand he beat a precipitate retreat, and 

 continued to do so at every attempt, his feathers pressed close to his body 

 and his neck stretched — the very picture of fear. The moment the weapon 

 was laid aside, however, his confidence was restored, and he was then as 

 easily approached as before. 



We carried Chippy with us, as we moved from camp to camp, for 

 neai-ly two months after. Everywhere he excited curiosity and wonder, 

 even among the Indians, while the members of our party grew daily more 

 attached to him. One morning, however, in the latter part of September, 

 we missed his familiar awakening twitter, and when we arose from our 

 blankets he could not be found. Search was made throuiifhout the dav, 

 but without success, and a large hawk having been seen early in the 

 morning hovering about the place, seemed to explain the cause of his dis- 

 appearance, lie was never afterward seen. 



It was suggested by members of the party that instead of e.xhibiting 

 the docility and intelligence characteristic of the species, this bird was jier- 

 haps an exceptional individual, and that another could not be found wliicii 

 would afford a parallel case. The following summer, however, another 

 young one was taken from the nest, and being reared under exactly tiie 

 same circumstances developed the same traits to such perfection that ho 

 would have absolutely passed for tlie same bird. As happened with 



