166 THE IDEAL BIRD IN THE GLASS. 



bath, and however long he soaked, or thor- 

 oughly he spattered, his plumage remained in 

 place and he was perfectly able to fly at once. 

 It appeared simply that he could not make up 

 his mind to go in. Then too, it soon became 

 apparent that he noticed his reflection in the 

 water. He often stood on the edge after bath- 

 ing, as well as before, looking intently upon the 

 image. Before the glass he did the same, look- 

 ing earnestly and in a low tone " uttering his 

 thoughts to the ideal bird whioh he fancied he 

 saw before him." Indeed, I think this ideal 

 thrush was a great comfort to him. 



Once having decided to go into the bath he 

 enjoyed it exceedingly, though in an unusual 

 way, fluttering and splashing vigorously for a 

 moment, then standing motionless up to his 

 body in the water, not shaking or pluming him- 

 self, not alarmed, but quietly enjoying the 

 soaking. After several fits of splashing alter- 

 nated with soaking, he went to a perch and 

 shook and plumed himself nearly dry, and just 

 when one would think he had entirely finished, 

 he returned to the dish, and began again — 

 hesitating on the brink, coquetting with the 

 " ideal thrush " in the water, and in fact doing 

 the whole thing over again. 



My bird had a genuine thrush's love of quiet 

 and dislike of a crowd, preferred unfrequented 



