CHARACTER IN FEATHERS. 67 
shrike is a taciturn bird. If he were a politi- 
cian, he would rely chiefly on what is known 
as the “ still hunt,” although he too can scream 
loudly enough on occasion. His most salient 
trait is his impudence, but even that is of a 
negative type. ‘“ Who are you,” he says, 
“that I should be at the trouble to insult 
you?” He has made a study of the value of 
silence as an indication of contempt, and is al- 
most human in his ability to stare straight by 
a person whose presence it suits him to ignore. 
His imperturbability is wonderful. Watch 
him as closely as you please, you will never 
discover what he is thinking about. Under- 
take, for instance, now that the fellow is sing- 
ing from the top of a small tree only a few rods 
from where you are standing, — undertake to 
settle the long dispute whether his notes are 
designed to decoy small birds within his reach. 
Those whistles and twitters, — hear them! So 
miscellaneous! so different from anything which 
would be expected from a bird of his size and 
general disposition! so very like the notes of 
sparrows! They must be imitative. You be- 
gin to feel quite sure of it. But just at this 
point the sounds cease, and you look up to dis- 
cover that Collurio has fallen to preening his 
feathers in the most listless manner imaginable. 
** Look at me,” he says; “do I act like one on 
