154 EXPRESSION OF WINGS. 



I have seen him spring into the air just high 

 enough to see me over my desk, — three feet at 

 least, — probably to satisfy himself as to my 

 whereabouts, and drop instantly back to his 

 work or play. 



This amusing bird was also intelligent. He 

 understood perfectly well what I wanted when 

 I spoke to him ; that is, he had a guilty con- 

 science when in mischief that translated my 

 tone to him. Also he recognized instantly a 

 bird out of place, as, for instance, one on the 

 floor which usually frequented the perches and 

 higher parts of the room ; and having taken 

 upon himself the office of regulator, he always 

 went after the bird thus out of his accustomed 

 beat. When I talked to the thrasher, he 

 answered me not only with a rough-breathing 

 sound, a sort of prolonged " ha-a-a," but with 

 his wings as well. Of course this is not un- 

 common in birds, but none that I have seen use 

 these members so significantly as he did. His 

 way was to lift the wing nearest me, sometimes 

 very slightly, sometimes to a perpendicular posi- 

 tion, but only one wing, and only after I made 

 a remark. This exhibition was curious and 

 interesting, and I often prolonged my talk to 

 see the variety he could give to this simple 

 motion. His wings were always expressive, in 

 alighting in a new place, or where he suspected 



