III. 



A GENTLE SPIRIT. 



SOME months after my experience with the 

 hermit thrush, I had the good fortune to come 

 into possession of a wood thrush, and for nearly 

 half a year now have had him under constant 

 observation. I find in his ways nothing to con- 

 tradict what I have said of his wild relatives, 

 but something to add to that record. 



My bird has a lovely gentleness of disposi- 

 tion, which has ample opportunity to show it- 

 self in a room with three or four companions. 

 Tranquillity is his delight, and for sweet peace 

 he will accept many discomforts. I know it is 

 genuine love of quiet, and not cowardice, be- 

 cause his conduct is the same with a tiny gold- 

 finch as with the birds of his own size. 



Twice has the amiable fellow changed his 

 residence to please a neighbor. When he came 

 to me he had been frightened by confinement 

 in a box, and had beaten his tail feathers out 

 in his struggles, so that he looked very droll ; 

 3 



