BIRD CURIOS. 39 
flitted to a perch to dry their bedraggled feathers 
and carefully arrange their dainty toilets.1 
Besides, it has been my chance to witness my 
little confidant, Bewick’s wren, taking a dust-bath, 
which he did in this manner: he would squat flat 
on his belly on the ground in the lane, completely 
hiding his, feet, and then glide about rapidly and 
smoothly over the little undulations, stirring the dust 
in volatile cloudlets. Never have I seen any per- 
formance, even in the bird realm so varied and 
versatile, more absolutely charming; so charming, 
indeed, that I believe my brief description of it 
will fittingly bring this rambling chapter on “ Bird 
Curios ” to a2 close. 
1 Long after this statement had appeared in print, Mr. 
Bradford Torrey described, in the “ Atlantic Monthly,” a 
similar performance which he witnessed in Florida; and, 
rather oddly, myrtle warblers were also the actors in this 
instance. 
