TYRANNUS VERTICALIS. 531 



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

 to fear that in consequence of this some harm might befall him while out of 

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

 means of preventing such a misfortune, we determined to frighten the wild 

 birds away 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 observed Chippy on his accustomed perch, brought out 

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

 %Y]iich jiroved to be our pet, separated from the rest and flew in teri-or to 

 the camp, screaming with all his might. We hastened back, fearing he had 

 been injured, and found him perched upon a rope, terribly frightened, but 

 not at all hurt. His disregard for firearms 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 

 nearly 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, how^ever, in the latter part of Septemljier, 

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

 blankets he could not be found. Search was made throughout the day, 

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

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

 appearance. He was never afterward seen. 



It was suggested by members of the party that instead of exhibiting 

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

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

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

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

 same circumstances developed the same traits to such perfection tliat lie 

 would have absolutely passed for the same bird. As hai)pened with 



