82 "TRICKS AND MANNERS" OF A CAT-BIRD. 



There is one mystery in the room not yet 

 penetrated, though it is a subject of the deepest 

 longing : it is my waste-basket, the contents of 

 which are varied and attractive. He will stand 

 on the edge, hop all around, and view it from 

 every side ; but it is so deep and narrow that 

 he evidently does not dare to venture farther. 

 Every day he goes to the edge, and gazes sadly 

 and earnestly, but is never satisfied. 



One of the most amusing of the cat-bird's 

 performances was with a praying mantis, which 

 lived for a few days under a small glass shade 

 on my desk. The moment the bird caught sight 

 of the stranger about five minutes after its 

 arrival he was greatly interested, and in- 

 stantly flew down to investigate. He alighted 

 close to the glass, and at once gave it a tap, 

 probably expecting to seize the insect. He was 

 somewhat surprised to meet with resistance, 

 but the effect upon the mantis was extraordi- 

 nary. That strange little creature had from 

 the first appeared observing : it would turn its 

 head to look at a person who drew near, and 

 return stare for stare, but it had never shown 

 fear. But the cat-bird was different; he was 

 recognized as an enemy. The instant he 

 touched the glass the mantis sprang up on the 

 defensive. Her plan seemed to be to make 

 herself as terrible to him as possible, and her 



