EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS. 87 



each jerk, without changing its position toward 

 his side. His tail seemed as loosely connected 

 with his body as if it were hung on wires ; it 

 moved even with his breathing, and the em- 

 phatic flirt of the member was an insult which 

 every bird in the room understood. Intense in- 

 terest in any sound was indicated by raising the 

 feathers over the ears alone, which gave him the 

 droll appearance of wearing velvet " ear muffs." 

 In expressing other emotions he could erect the 

 feathers of his chin, his shoulders or his back, 

 either part alone, or all together, as he chose. 

 A true bird of the south, he did not enjoy our 

 climate, and if the room became too cool he 

 made his opinion known by drawing his head 

 down into his shoulders, with every feather on 

 his body fluffed out, even to the base of the 

 beak, till he looked as if wrapped in delicate 

 gray furs to his nose, and almost burying his 

 eyes. 



The mocking-bird's emotions were so intense 

 and so originally displayed that he was a con- 

 stant source of interest. A hand-glass lying face 

 up gave opportunity for an amusing exhibition 

 one day. Leaning over it, he puffed out every 

 feather, opened his mouth, and tried the glass 

 with his beak at every point. Meeting no satis- 

 faction, he turned to leave it, but first peeped 

 slyly over the edge to see if the stranger were 



