200 FUN WITH A GRASSHOPPER. 



rustling, squawking madly in a loud voice. He 

 usually managed in his career to sweep close 

 over the head of every bird, of course frighten- 

 ing them off their perches, and thus to put the 

 whole room into a panic. They took refuge 

 anywhere, — under the bed, behind the chairs, 

 against the wires, and on the floor, — while the 

 mischief-maker circled around, filling the air 

 with shrieks, then suddenly dropped to the 

 round of a chair and calmly dressed his feath- 

 ers, as if he had merely been exercising his 

 wings. 



Poor little fellow ! he was hardly more than 

 a baby, and not very brave. A big grasshopper 

 which once got into the room afforded him 

 great excitement and the spectators much 

 amusement. He saw it before his cage was 

 opened, and as soon as he came out he went 

 after it. The insect hopped up three feet, and 

 so startled the bird that he jumped almost as 

 high. When it alighted he picked it up, but 

 seeming not to know what to do with it, soon 

 dropped it. Again it hopped, and again the 

 jay repeated his bound ; and this performance 

 went on for some minutes, one of the drollest of 

 sights, — his cautious approach, the spring of 

 the insect, and his instant copy of the same, as 

 if in emulation. After being picked up several 

 times the grasshopper was disabled ; then when 



