198 FLYING AWAY WITH THE PHOTOGRAPH. 



pecking a hole in the wrapper and examining 

 the contents through that; and boxes he opened 

 by delivering upward blows under the edge of 

 the cover. The waste-basket he nearly emptied 

 from the outside by dragging papers through 

 the openings in the weaving. Seeing two or 

 three unmounted photographs put into a book, 

 he went speedily for that volume, thrust his 

 beak into the slight opening made by the pic- 

 tures, and pulled them out, flying at once across 

 the room with one in his mouth. It was se- 

 cured and put back, and the book held down 

 by a heavy weight ; but he found the place at 

 once, and repeated the naughtiness. The book 

 had to be completely covered up before the 

 photographs were safe. 



After the blue-jay had put on a new suit 

 of feathers he flew with great ease, and selected 

 for a retreat the top of a door into the passage- 

 way mentioned, which usually stood open. It 

 was not long before his curiosity was roused to 

 know what was outside the door that so often 

 swallowed up his friends, — that into the hall. 

 He resolved to find out, and to that end, when 

 stationed on the elevated perch of his choice, 

 held himself in readiness, upon the exit of any 

 one, to fly out. He did not wish to get away ; 

 he merely took a turn in the hall, and came 

 back ; and once, when accidentally left in that 



