THE BIRD OF SOCIETY. 105 



was never in the least wild with me. From 

 the first he took food from my hand, and before 

 he had been in the house a week, seeing one 

 day a thrush standing on my knee and receiv- 

 ing meat from my hand, he came out of his 

 cage, flew across the room and alighted beside 

 the thrush (who instantly vacated his position) 

 and stood there as long as I fed him, showing 

 not the least fear. A little later, when he be- 

 came ill, and so weak that he hesitated to de- 

 scend his three perches for food because of his 

 uncertain footing, he allowed me to put my 

 hand in the cage and hold his dish up to him 

 on the upper perch, when he would eat freely, 

 and then, when I offered the water, drink 

 also. For two or three days he ate in no other 

 way, and I am confident I thus kept him alive 

 while curing him of his ailment. 



This bird has now lived with me many 

 months, and though his cage door is always 

 open he seldom comes out, and when he does is 

 very glad to get back. He is observing, no- 

 tices in a moment if I have anything to eat, 

 and comes instantly to the side near to me and 

 calls, till I offer him a bit of whatever it may 

 be, when he descends to his beloved water-cup, 

 tastes the morsel and usually deposits it tidily 

 in one of his dishes. He had a strange experi- 

 ence a few months ago ; he broke off the end 



