30 Song Birds. 



Tuft repeatedly, on which Tuft flew up (without any 

 seed) and stood on the door ledge looking more per- 

 plexed than ever. I was wondering greatly what she 

 would do with such a weak-minded although willing 

 slave, when I saw her dart from her nest, take Tuft 

 down with her indignantly to the seed tin, in some 

 way evidently indicating his duty, for she had hardly 

 time to fly back and settle herself again in due form 

 upon her nest, before Mr. Tuft arrived with a 

 splendid hemp seed, which, standing on the door 

 ledge, he presented to his lady in the most proper 

 manner.* 



11. Birds vary very much as to their talents. The 

 pair I was just speaking of have been peculiarly full of 

 clever tricks ; the very first day after Tuft entered the 

 house (Tuft is a beautiful crested Canary, who has only 

 been here a few months) the lady who is now his wife 



* The evident plan of all this did seem to ine so astonishing 

 that I was quite delighted when I found, long after this page 

 was written, the following corrob oration. "The male of a 

 Canary bird, which was sitting on her eggs, was more intent 

 on serenading than on feeding her. When this was the case^ 

 she would quit her nest and chase him round and round the 

 cage, pecking him violently with her beak, and showing her 

 anger in a variety of ways. She would then return to her 

 nest without attempting to feed herself, and the male would 

 then, like a meek, obedient husband, immediately attend to her 

 wants, cariying her a plentiful supply of seed, groundsel, and 

 egg. He then resumed his song, and she resumed her disci- 

 pline "whenever his notes were too much prolonged." JESSE'S 

 Gleanings. 



