CHAP, ii.] TKOUBLESOME TAMENESS. 263 



from the climate even of that mild winter, and the sur- 

 vivor lost some of its claws from chilblains. The bird 

 of which we were thus deprived (a hen, now mounted in 

 the Norwich Museum) was replaced by another fine one, 

 so tame as to fly up and alight on our fist like a Hawk, 

 when called to receive a morsel of bread. She had the 

 misfortune to break both her legs in scrambling through 

 a hedge when no one was near to help her, and died soon 

 after. Another mate was again provided for the lone 

 Guan, and still continues in his society. It was quite 

 evident that, till summer came, they suffered much from 

 cold ; for whenever the kitchen door was left open, they 

 would dart in to warm themselves, and frequently sat on 

 the fender to enjoy the blaze of a roasting fire. But at 

 all seasons they manifest this propensity to insinuate 

 themselves into the house, and pry into nooks and cor- 

 ners. If a window is left open, or a door ajar, they will 

 make themselves at home either upstairs or belowstairs, 

 sometimes announcing their presence by cries that would 

 sound horribly alarming to those who are ignorant of the 

 gentle temper of the utterers, and occasionally giving 

 even less agreeable tokens of their domiciliary visits. 

 One morning, while busy writing, we heard a great clat- 

 ter in the adjoin ing apartment; on inspecting the cause, 

 there was one of the Guans on the drawing-room man- 

 tel-piece, admiring itself in the glass, and making room 

 for its mate by clearing off the china ornaments. Well 

 might we mutter Alexander Selkirk's complaint, as 

 nearly as we could recollect it in our excitement 



" These birds, stealing into the house, 



My form with indifference see ; 

 They are so disrespectful a race, 

 Their tameness is shocking to me." 



