76 OVER TEE BATE. 



paid no apparent attention to him, and went 

 on with his business. The Mexican approached 

 slowly, a step at a time, with a low, warning 

 " chack," which meant, " Make way there, I 'm 

 coming." The mocking-bird, manifestly hear- 

 ing him, did not take the hint, nor look at his 

 assailant, but serenely continued his splashing. 

 The Mexican advanced to within six inches 

 before he was convinced that force would be 

 necessary. When he decided upon an attack, 

 he manifested it by a grotesque little hop^ a few 

 inches into the air, but this not alarming the 

 enemy he drew near to the dish. Now at last 

 the bather condescended to notice him. He 

 stood up in the water and faced his adversary, 

 bowing rather slowly and with dignity, feathers 

 ruffled, and beak opening in the curious way 

 usual with him, — stretching it wide, then clos- 

 ing it, and constantly repeating the operation. 



After looking a moment at this peculiar dis- 

 play, the Mexican hopped upon the edge of the 

 dish, and in the same instant, as though moved 

 by the same machinery, the mocking-bird sprang 

 backward out upon the floor. The usurper 

 paid him no further attention, but proceeded 

 to bathe, while his discomfited rival took a 

 stand on the edge of the disputed dish, which 

 was ten inches in diameter, and fanned his 

 wings violently. I cannot otherwise name this 



