530 ORNITHOLOGY. 



of his kind, who often visited the vicinity of our camp for the purpose), 

 it was only necessary to call him, and if within hearing he was sure 

 to leave his comrades with impolite abruptness and fly in haste to camp, 

 twittering gladly as he came. The writer was once leaving the camp for a 

 trip into the mountains, and had scarcely reached the mouth of the canon, 

 several hundred yards distant, when Chippy's familiar voice was heard, and 

 on looking back he was discovered following, as fast as his wings could 

 carry him, twittering with all his might, as if calling out for us to wait for 

 him. He soon overtook us, and, alighting upon our shoulder, accompanied 

 us on our way, every now and then flying off after a butterfly or other 

 insect that had caught his eye, capturing which he would retvirn and beat 

 his prey against the hard brim of oiu' straw hat until in a condition to be 

 swallowed; or often these little detours were for the purpose of sporting 

 awhile with others of his species encountered by the way, returning in a 

 little while, followed by them to within a few yards, when they would 

 alight on a branch, apparently wondering at the perfect understanding 

 existing between us. After ascending the cailon to where the path became 

 too much obstructed by rocks and brushwood to pi-oceed farther, except 

 on foot, we dismounted and unsaddled; Chippy seemed disposed to rest, 

 so he was placed in the shade of the saddle, as it lay upon the ground, 

 and we proceeded on our way. The little fellow soon missed us, however, 

 and it was not long before he found us out, by the report of our gun — a 

 sound with which he had long been familiar, and which he had not learned 

 to fear, tlie barrel of our gun often being his perch when he accompanied 

 us on our trips, even the report, though of course startling him, not fright- 

 ening him from our shoulder. On several occasions did the report of our 

 gun prove the means of directing him to us when he had strayed beyond 

 his usual bounds, such a circumstance once occurring half a mile from camp, 

 after he had been missing all the morning. His natural fondness for the 

 society of the birds of his species living in the neighborhood did not have 

 the effect of in the least alienating his affections, but came, nevertheless, 

 near costing him his life, the circumstances being as follows: He used daily 

 to bring his playmates to the camp, where, after sporting about with them for 

 a half hour or so, they would all leave together and be absent, sometimes 



