154 EXPRESSION OF WINGS. 



I have seen him spring into the air just high 

 enough to see me over my desk, three feet at 

 least, probably to satisfy himself as to my 

 whereabouts, and drop instantly back to his 

 work or play. 



This amusing bird was also intelligent. He 

 understood perfectly well what I wanted when 

 I spoke to him ; that is, he had a guilty con- 

 science when in mischief that translated my 

 tone to him. Also he recognized instantly a 

 bird out of place, as, for instance, one on the 

 floor which usually frequented the perches and 

 higher parts of the room ; and having taken 

 upon himself the office of regulator, he always 

 went after the bird thus out of his accustomed 

 beat. When I talked to the thrasher, he 

 answered me not only with a rough-breath in 

 sound, a sort of prolonged " ha-a-a," but with 

 his wings as well. Of course this is not un- 

 common in birds, but none that I have seen use 

 these members so significantly as he did. His 

 way was to lift the wing nearest me, sometimes 

 very slightly, sometimes to a perpendicular posi- 

 tion, but only one wing, and only after I made 

 a remark. This exhibition was curious and 

 interesting, and I often prolonged my talk to 

 see the variety he could give to this simple 

 motion. His wings were always expressive, in 

 alighting in a new place, or where he suspected 



