IX. 



TRANSIENT GUESTS IN THE BIRD-ROOM. 



DURING all the years of bird-study in the 

 house, there has been an almost constant suc- 

 cession of transients in the bird-room. These 

 were birds or beasts intended for close ac- 

 quaintance, but, proving themselves in one way 

 or another out of harmony with the place or its 

 residents, were therefore banished. 



One of the most fleeting of these visitors was 

 a ring-dove. It was very pretty, and it was 

 made personally interesting by a history, being 

 the survivor of a pair blown out to sea, and 

 alighting on a ship five hundred miles from the 

 coast of Africa ; but its habits were unbear- 

 able. One might have learned to endure the 

 oft - repeated " Coo-o-o ! coo ! coo ! Coo-o-o ! 

 coo ! coo ! " though it was painfully mournful, 

 expressing only longing and regret. But when 

 to that plaintive cry was added a startling and 

 frightful sound like choking or strangling, or, as 

 one listener called it, a fiendish laugh, the bird 



