146 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



by his young owners. He always shewed a marked pre- 

 ference for human society, making unceasing efforts all the 

 fifteen years we had him, to be considered an in-door pet, 

 coming into the house at every opportunity, and walking 

 upstairs, or into any of the sitting-rooms. For a whole 

 winter he resolutely attempted to settle for the night on 

 the top of a bookcase in the library, and when removed, 

 day after day, he would not remain in either stable or shed, 

 but came back to the house, and slept on the window-sill. 

 At last, to our surprise, " Jupiter," as he was called, for- 

 sook the accustomed roosting-place, and it was discovered 

 that during the day, a stray pigeon, not belonging to the 

 place, had formed a friendship with the cock, and the two 

 walked about the garden and fed together. If at any time 

 the pigeon flew up to the roof of the house, the distress 

 of the bantam was great, and his cries for his companion 

 to come down were incessant, and generally proved success- 

 ful. At first the pigeon flew away at night, but after a 

 while it betook itself to an open, unused stable, and from 

 that time the bantam deserted the window and slept be- 

 side the pigeon in the stable. I forget what became of the 

 pigeon, but Jupiter's next friend was a little green paroquet, 

 whose cage used to be })ut out in the porch every morning. 

 He used to watch for it, and run to meet it, and the paro- 

 quet would put down its head to be caressed by him, and 

 the two friends would sit as close together us the cage 

 would permit, billing and cooing like doves. His last 

 friendship was more extraordinary, for it was with an 

 animal rather more addicted to make a meal than a pet of 



