A BIRD OF OPINION. 241 



most of the time, closely pressed against the 

 window-casing, generally looking out at the 

 trees and the sparrow-life upon them, and re- 

 garding every passer-by in the street, not in an 

 unhappy way, but apparently considering the 

 whole a panorama for his entertainment. When 

 events in the room interested him, his post of ob- 

 servation was a bracket that held a small cage, 

 where he often sat an hour at a time in perfect 

 silence, looking at everybody, concerned about 

 everything, his rosy shield and white breast ef- 

 fectively set off by the dark paper behind him. 

 Although thus immobile and silent, the gros- 

 beak was far from being stupid. He had de- 

 cided opinions and tastes as well defined as any- 

 body's. For example, when he came to me his 

 cage stood on a shelf next to that occupied by 

 two orchard orioles, and he was never pleased 

 with the position. He was hardly restless even 

 there, while suffering what he plainly consid- 

 ered a grievance, but he was uneasy. I saw 

 that something was wrong, and guessed at once 

 that it was because his upper perch was three 

 inches lower than that in the next cage, and to 

 have a neighbor higher than himself is always 

 an offense to a bird. As soon as I raised his 

 cage he was satisfied on that score, and no 

 more disturbed me in the early morning by 

 shuffling about on his perch and trying to fly 

 upward. 



