"THESE ARE YOUR BROTHERS." 211 



One eye will close sleepily, shut tight, and ap- 

 pear to enjoy a good nap, while the other is 

 wide awake as ever. It is not always the eye 

 towards the light that sleeps, nor is it invaria- 

 bly the one from the light. The presence or 

 absence of people makes no difference. I have 

 even had a bird stand on my arm or knee, draw 

 up one leg, and seem to sleep soundly with one 

 eye, while the other was wide open. In sev- 

 eral years' close attention I have been unable to 

 find any cause, either in the position or the 

 surroundings, for this strange habit. 



No " set old woman " is more wedded to her 

 accustomed u ways" than are birds in general 

 to theirs. Their hours for eating, napping, and 

 singing are as regular as ours. So, likewise, are 

 their habits in regard to alighting places, even 

 to the very twig they select. After a week's 

 acquaintance with the habits of a bird, I can 

 always tell when something disturbing has oc- 

 curred, by the place in which he is found. One 

 bird will make the desk his favorite haunt, and 

 freely visit tables, the rounds of chairs, and 

 the floor, while another confines himself to the 

 backs of chairs, the tops of cages and picture- 

 frames. One hermit thrush frequented the 

 bureau, the looking-glass frame, and the top of 

 a cardboard map which had warped around till 

 the upper edge was almost circular. On this 



