SIZE AND CHARACTER 263 



the corners of the mouth, producing a weirdly ugly 

 expression which might easily be mistaken for 

 yawning, but is assumed under quite appropriate 

 circumstances for a smile, as when the bird is being 

 petted and played with by some one whom it 

 knows and likes. 



Generally speaking, in birds of the same group 

 the larger species will be found more intelligent 

 and of more marked character than the smaller, 

 though there are numerous exceptions to this ; for 

 instance, an aviary of Parrakeets can be kept up 

 with much more safety than a collection of Cockatoos 

 and Macaws, and in a pond stocked with waterfowl 

 it will be found that all species larger than the 

 common Wild Duck are not only more tameable 

 and intelHgent than that bird, but much more 

 jealous and vindictive, and apt to pursue their 

 quarrels to the death, while the squabblings of the 

 smaller species seldom lead to anything serious. 



Pronounced vigour of character is, however, 

 also a prerogative of certain special types ; thus 

 among Parrots the Conures, though not large, 

 are birds of much character, and among Ducks the 

 Sheldrakes, though considerably smaller than the 

 Geese. Among small birds, too, I have found the 

 Pekin Robin {Liothrix luteus) a remarkably intelli- 

 gent species, with plenty of presence of mind; if 

 turned out in a garden it will soon find its way 

 back to its companions in captivity, if there be any 

 of its own species, and displays no fear of the mob- 

 birig of the Sparrows, which, to dp them justice, are 



