IN THE CAT-BIRD'S NOOK. 69 



But the rarest of all is to see him take a sun- 

 bath, and one is fortunate indeed to catch sight 

 of him and not disturb him in his luxurious en- 

 joyment. Each particular feather stands on 

 end, even to the small ones of his crown, till he 

 looks twice his usual size, and like a clumsy 

 imitation of a bird made of feathers stuck 

 loosely into a ball. More than this, he leans 

 far over on one side, and lifts his wing so that 

 the sunshine may penetrate to every part, while 

 his mouth is half open and his eyes are closed 

 in ecstasy. He is a strange-looking object ; one 

 would think him in great distress rather than 

 enjoying a sunning. 



It is interesting to watch the various atti- 

 tudes this bird assumes. He even seems to 

 change shape. Now he stretches up very tall, 

 with neck lengthened and tail standing at an 

 angle of forty-five degrees ; again he crouches 

 in a heap, and swells out till he resembles an 

 exaggerated wren ; something attracts his at- 

 tention, and he leans forward with head and 

 tail on a level with his body, and legs closely 

 curled under him, till he looks from the front 

 like a snake; a thought of mischief seizes him, 

 and he drops his tail over on one side, lowers 

 his head, spreads far apart his sturdy legs, and 

 the looker-on may be sure that in a moment he 

 will dart off to frighten away another bird, or 

 play some lively prank. 



