A Paradise of Birds 



seemed to be ever keenly watchful. His formid- 

 able bill, very sharp, three or three and a half 

 inches long, and shaped like a pickaxe, was held 

 perfectly level. But the wonder was that he did 

 not struggle or make the slightest movement. 

 We had a tortoise-shell cat, an old Tom of great 

 experience, who was so fond of lying under the 

 stove in frosty weather that it was difficult even 

 to poke him out with a broom ; but when he saw 

 and smelled that strange big fishy, black and 

 white, speckledy bird, the like of which he had 

 never before seen, he rushed wildly to the 

 farther comer of the kitchen, looked back 

 cautiously and suspiciously, and began to make 

 a careful study of the handsome but dangerous- 

 looking stranger. Becoming more and more 

 curious and interested, he at length advanced 

 a step or two for a nearer view and nearer 

 smell; and as the wonderful bird kept abso- 

 lutely motionless, he was encouraged to venture 

 gradually nearer and nearer until within per- 

 haps five or six feet of its breast. Then the 

 wary loon, not liking Tom's looks in so near a 

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