196 THE BIRD OF THE STREET. 



within hearing responded by instantly deserting 

 his business or pleasure, and adding his pres- 

 ence and cries to the mob. 



But the squirrel, finding fruit - trees with 

 green apples and pears, resolved to stay, and 

 after a week or two they became so far accus- 

 tomed to his presence as to be less alarmed, 

 though they never lost interest in him. His 

 eating especially seemed to divert and astonish 

 them. I have seen fifty birds at once hovering 

 around an evergreen tree, too small to afford 

 them perching-places far enough from the en- 

 emy, while he gathered and nibbled the small 

 cones. When he sat up on a branch, holding 

 a green pear in his tiny paws, their amusement 

 knew no bounds. They sat around at a safe 

 distance, exchanging remarks, in the amiable 

 manner of some of the human race at the ways 

 of a foreigner. 



The squirrel had by this time resumed his 

 wild instincts, cared nothing for them, and 

 would even answer back with a sharp little cry. 

 He had taken up his summer residence in the 

 maple-tree cottage, and all through the fall, 

 while pears hung on the trees of the neglected 

 yard next ours 5 he lived in clover. His tail be- 

 came bushy, his coat grew sleek, and he looked 

 like a different animal. Still the sparrows at- 

 tended his every movement, following him like 



