MR. AND MRS. CHEWINK 



morsel. Mr. Chewink was just a bit suspi- 

 cious, and hopped toward the box, but seeing 

 his wife eating, he turned back to investigate. 

 When he found she had only common food, 

 he flew at her, pecked her severely, and then 

 flew away. Mrs. Chewink returned at once 

 to her cooky. I saw then that this wild bird 

 could reason. She had exercised thought to 

 control action, with a definite object in view. 

 The first of November turned clear and cold. 

 There was a hint of winter in the air by day, 

 and the nights were frosty. The chewinks 

 lingered awhile, but the cold was too severe 

 for them, and at last it drove them south. 

 The next spring Mrs. Chewink did not return. 

 Mr. Chewink soon found a second wife. I 

 do not know what became of my pet. The 

 chewinks are shot in the Southern rice-fields, 

 and it is always uncertain about a particular 

 bird coming back in the spring. Association 

 with my little bird for three seasons had led 

 me to become so attached to her that her loss 

 really gave me a heartache. 



Mr. Chewink did not return the next year, 

 183 



