The expression "boxed his ears," it must 

 be confessed is rather figurative. A 

 parrot has only Httle holes through 

 which to admit sound. She lightly 

 struck the places where the ears ought 

 to be. 



Speaking of Ki's hatred for water, he 

 not only dislikes a bath, but knows the 

 meaning of the word. When his hero 

 says, "Come out of your cage, Ki, and 

 have a bath," the bird will not move, 

 but let him offer to take the bird out 

 without mentioning a bath, and out he 

 comes; for there is nothing he loves 

 better than to perch on his hero's shoul- 

 der and play with him. . Woe betide the 

 bride if she approaches at these bHssful 

 moments! 



This intense jealousy is char- 

 acteristic of the parrot family. A gen- 

 tleman who has two macaws, related 

 this circumstance. He had owned a 

 large red, white and yellow macaw sev- 

 eral years. The bird was very fierce to- 

 w^ards every one except his wife, who 

 could do anything with him. He would 

 swing on her finger, placed within his 



beak, without scratching her and play 

 by the hour without doing her the 

 slightest harm, although his power to 

 injure her was shown by his twice cut- 

 ting a plain gold ring by slipping his 

 beak between it and her finger. The 

 gentleman bought another macaw with 

 'markings of blue, white and yellow, so 

 gentle that anyone could pet it. When 

 this new pet was brought home, his wife 

 fondled it in the presence of the old fa- 

 vorite. At once the red macaw showed 

 temper, and never since has his former 

 friend been allowed to play with him. 

 Ki is much kinder to men and chil- 

 dren than to women. He spent two 

 wrecks last summer in another home and 

 grew quite attached to the man of the 

 house, who could take him out of his 

 cage, and with whom he would sing. 

 This fondness seems to continue as Ki 

 still shows pleasure at meeting him. But, 

 after all, he has but one true love. 

 Never, even under the most trying ex- 

 periences, even when his pin-feathers 

 are rubbed the wrong way, will he show 

 anger towards his hero. 



Jennie Campbell Douglass. 



HEPATICAS. 



Brave little spring-flower, fragile and tender; 



Long ere the leaves on the trees are agreen, 

 Thrusting your pedicels downy and tender, 



Up toward the sunshine the dead leaves between. 



First among wood-flowers, boldly defying, 

 Keen winds of April and nights that are chill ; 



Smiling and nodding while others are lying 

 Under warm coverlets, dreamless and still. 



Roses and lilies will bloom without nmnber. 

 Queens of the garden, imperial flowers ; 



You, overcoming the lethe of slumber, 



Lift up your face to the first vernal showers. 



Hail then, Hepaticas ! first gift of Flora, 



Frail little blossom that droops in the hand ; 



Many will flower in defiance to-morrow. 

 You for to-day without rivalry stand. 



— Charles F. Fudge. 



