230 ORIOLE INCOMPATIBILITY. 



of meekness. Whenever he caught sight of his 

 reflection he was furious : he strode across the 

 lower support, bowing and posturing ; then flew 

 up against the glass, touching it with breast and 

 claws, and beating his wings against it. Failing, 

 of course, to seize the enemy, he peered eagerly 

 behind the mirror, then returned with fresh rage 

 to the charge in front. After a while I placed 

 the glass at such an angle that he could not see 

 himself from below. Instantly he alighted on a 

 basket that hung conveniently near, ran to the 

 end where he could stretch around and see his 

 face, then to the other end from which he could 

 look behind, uttering at the same time a loud 

 cry. This also he kept up till I removed the 

 basket. A day or two later, the discovery of a 

 hand-glass standing on a table gave opportunity 

 for a repetition of the performance. He attitudi- 

 nized, drooped his wings, beat against it, hopped 

 quite over it, touched the glass many times with 

 his beak, and at last circled round and round, 

 going into a rage whenever he reached the front, 

 and springing suddenly around, as if to seize 

 the elusive enemy behind. It was a strange 

 exhibition of passion, very droll if it had not 

 been painful to see. After that the glasses were 

 covered. 



Repose of manner was unknown to the orchard 

 oriole ; he could never wait a moment for any- 



