TO GET HIM HOME 29 



swathed his big cage in a light woollen shawl, 

 leaving about three inches uncovered at one 

 end. Then, before he noticed the opening, I 

 seated myself with my back to the cage and a 

 hand-mirror in my hand, in which I could see 

 him, while he did not think I was looking. 

 Then I kept perfectly still. 



In a few minutes a long beak was thrust from 

 behind the shawl screen, and a large eye came 

 slowly beyond the edge. There he paused, 

 and looked at me, at the room, the ceiling, the 

 window near him, and the bird opposite. I 

 remained silent with my back towards him, 

 and he studied his new world for several min- 

 utes, then retreated behind the shawl. 



Each day I made the opening a little wider, 

 and changed the dishes from behind the screen 

 so that he saw only my hand, and in a week I 

 had, inch by inch, taken off the cover and given 

 him the full view of the room. This wood- 

 pecker, though I never make the least effort 

 to tame a bird, became so familiar that he 

 would hop on to me, and stand still and let 

 me pick him up, which I never knew any 

 other creature in feathers to do. 



