A GENTLE SPIRIT. 



37 



he is unable to stop, but slides past the spot, on 

 the matting. The Mexican successfully resists 

 his attempt to possess himself of the new piece ; 

 the mocking-bird at first quailed before so furi- 

 ous an onslaught, but later learned to protect 

 his own property, although for a few days the 

 thrush would retain possession of three pieces 

 in three parts of the room, by driving away the 

 mocking-bird from each in turn. In every 

 other thing, even meat, of which he is exceed- 

 ingly fond, he is willing to share. 



When I enter the bird-room with a piece of 

 fresh beef in one hand, and the scissors (with 

 which I cut it into tiny strips like a meal- 

 worm) in the other, the thrush will fly to my 

 hand, alight beside the meat, and stand there 

 while I feed all three in succession. If the 

 Mexican is at liberty I have trouble, for he is 

 both greedy and savage. He tries to snatch, 

 fiercely pecks my hand if I give to another 

 what he wants himself, and lastly flings himself 

 upon the bird he chooses to consider his rival. 

 Since he is the largest and strongest in the 

 room, all fly before him. Consequently I dis- 

 tribute the meat while he is still behind the 

 bars of the cage. 



In another way the thrush shows that he is 

 not a coward. He goes down into the waste- 

 basket, and of all the birds I have kept, he 



