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ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



times it allows itself to be handled, and will even take 

 any favourite food that is offered to it, without altering 

 its position further than by a gentle turn of the head. 

 It will also suffer its tail to be replaced in its natural 

 downward posture, but immediately returns it, as if by 

 a spring, to the vertical position. At the end of about 

 two hours it begins gradually to turn its bill over its 

 right shoulder, and to nestle it among the feathers of 

 its back, sometimes concealing it completely within the 

 plumage, at other times leaving a slight portion of its 

 upper edge exposed. At the same time it droops the 

 feathers of its wings and those of the thigh-coverts so 

 as to encompass the legs and feet ; and thus nearly 

 assuming the appearance of an oval ball of feathers, 

 secures itself against all exposure to cold. In the 

 colder weather, however, when placed in a room with 

 a fire, the unusual light seems to interfere with its 

 general habits : it does not go to rest so early or so 

 regularly as at other times ; and it sometimes even 

 feeds at a late hour. 



