12 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 



platitude, but when we hear of his cracking clams 

 by dropping them on a fence, coming to roost with 

 the hens in cold weather, and in the case of a 

 tame crow opening a door by lighting on the 

 latch, his originality is a surprise, A family near 

 here had much merriment over the gambols of a 

 pet crow named Jim. Whenever he saw the gar- 

 dener passing to and fro between the house and 

 garden, he would fly down from the trees, light on 

 his hat, and ride back and forth. He liked to 

 pick the bright blossoms, particularly pansies and 

 scarlet geraniums, and would not only steal bright 

 colored worsteds and ribbons, but tear all the yel- 

 low covers from any novels he came across. When 

 any one went to the vegetable garden he showed 

 the most commendable eagerness to help with the 

 work, being anxious to pick whatever was wanted 

 from raspberries and currants to the little cu- 

 cumbers gathered for pickling. 



The sight of the big black puppy waddling 

 along wagging high in air a long black tail in- 

 congruously finished off with a tipping of white 

 hairs was too much for Jim's sobriety. Down he 

 would dive, give a nip at the hairs, and be gravely 

 seated on a branch just out of reach by the time 

 Bruno had turned to snap at him. Let the puppy 

 move on a step, and down the mischief would come 

 again, and so the two would play sometimes for 

 more than half an hour at a time. Then again, 

 the joke would take a more practical turn, for, in- 



