44 



The Avifauna. 



until found by searching the odd corners of 

 the neighborhood. On our return to camp 

 life he was at home again. We vividly 

 remember his antics when the first autumn 

 rain fell, while we were in camp near Santa 

 Cruz . As the drops fell profusely he seemed 

 determined to leave the shelter of the tent 

 and stand outside. With some solicitude 

 in regard to the consequences of a wetting 

 we compelled him to return within the tent, 

 but as often as this was repeated he per- 

 sisted in receiving his baptism, crawling 

 under the edge of the tent which we had 

 tightly closed. Looking out we found him 

 with his wings extended and his whole body 

 quivering with apparent delight. His size 

 was greatly reduced , and with his wet 

 feathers clinging to the body, and darkened 

 by the drenching, and with his big eyes 

 standing out from his head, he was an un- 

 canny looking creature. This was his first 

 experience in a rain storm and whenever 

 rain fell afterward he seemed anxious to 

 repeat it. After that kind ofbath he would 

 come in shivering and stand before the 

 kerosene stove to dry himself carefully, 

 pluming his disordered feathers. If the 

 sun shone brightly he would often go out 

 and throw himself down upon his breast 

 and spread his wings upon the ground-a^id 

 with open mouth pant with evident enjoy- 

 ment. 



Upon our return to Santa Barbara we al- 

 lowed him the freedom of the studio, and 

 his favorite perch was in the windowsill, 

 where he would sit throughout the day 

 watching the movements on the street. If 

 a stranger came in at the door he generally 

 hopped down and ran under a case of min- 

 erals ; should the supposed intruder come 

 near his retreat he would run out and, with 

 bristling feathers and outstretched wings, 

 give him a peck. He seemed to have his 

 likes and dislikes, however, for he would 

 allow most adults to approach without any 

 demonstration, while to others he mani- 

 fested great aversion. Children were the 



special objects of his spite, although his 



movements toward them often seemed more 

 in play than otherwise. Whenever either 

 myself or wife returned to the room after 

 an absence, he would invariably greet us 

 with his soft cuc-koo, and what seemed 

 remarkable, from his window he would 

 often detect me as I approached on the 

 walk and utter his welcome. One of our 

 friends, who very often made us a visit, had 

 frequent rough and tumble plays with Toot, 

 much to the bird's enjoyment, for as soon 

 as he opened the door he was recognized 

 and a rush was made to his retreat under 

 the case, but he at once reappeared and 

 gave a bristling challenge. Another friend 

 had in some manner incured Toot's dis- 

 pleasure and he never escaped a demon- 

 stration of it, no matter how often he ap- 

 peared. 



He suffered himself to be handled by 

 those with whom he was familiar, and my 

 wife taught him to nibble her cheek, which 

 she interpreted as a kiss. Whenever he 

 was thirsty, which was seldom, he made 

 his wants known by going to the hydrant 

 and calling. 



His food was principally fresh meat — 

 beef, mutton and liver. He invariably re- 

 jected the fat and was much disgusted if 

 the meat was stale, alu ays turning away 

 from it when offered. When, very hungry 

 he would eat a little salt beef. Mice, 

 gophers and little birds were a delicacy for 

 him. He was also fond of small fish. He 

 rejected all vegetable substances, with one 

 exception , he would swallow bits of water- 

 melon, perhaps because it had the color of 

 meat. He had great diflSculty in swallow- 

 ing the mice whole when he was quite 

 young, and after repeated effort all would 

 disappear except the tails, which hung out 

 of his mouth in a ludicrous manner. When 

 swallowing a deliciousmorselhis eyes would 

 be closed with an exceedingly satisfied ex- 

 pression . 



A box of pulverized earth was placed out- 



