DISTURBED BY AN OWL. 243 



scarcely ever seemed to feel the need of utter- 

 ance of any sort. On the rare occasions of 

 any excitement he delivered a sharp, metallic 

 " click " ; a sudden alarm, like the attack of 

 another bird, called out a war-cry loud and 

 shrill, and very odd ; and in the contest over 

 the important question of precedence at the 

 bath he sometimes uttered a droll squeal or 

 whining sound. Besides these, he made singu- 

 lar noises in bathing and dressing his feathers, 

 which are not uncommon among birds, but are 

 difficult to describe. They always remind me 

 of the rubbing of machinery in need of oil. 



This beautiful bird was not easily frightened ; 

 the only time I ever saw him seriously disturbed 

 was at the sight of a stuffed screech-owl, which 

 I brought into the room without thinking of its 

 probable effect. I placed it on a shelf in a 

 closet, and I soon noticed that the moment the 

 closet door was opened the grosbeak became 

 greatly agitated ; he darted across the room to 

 a certain retreat where he always hurried on 

 the first alarm of any sort, and remained in re- 

 tirement till the fancied danger was over, while 

 the others flew madly about. In this place he 

 stood posturing in much excitement, and utter- 

 ing at short intervals his sharp " click." For 

 some time I did not understand his conduct, 

 nor think of connecting it with the owl on the 



