244 THE LOOKING-GLASS. 



shelf ; but when it did occur to me I tried the 

 experiment of bringing it out into the room, 

 when I immediately saw, what I should have 

 remembered at once, that it was an object of 

 terror to all the birds. 



The song of the rose-breasted grosbeak is 

 celebrated, and I hoped my bird would become 

 acquainted with us, and let out his voice ; but 

 I was disappointed in both respects, for he 

 never became familiar in the least, and though 

 not at all afraid he was very shy ; and further- 

 more, upon my bringing into the room two 

 small musical thrushes, the grosbeak — feeling, 

 as I said, no need of utterance — readily re- 

 lapsed into silence, and all the winter never 

 sang a note. His conduct before the looking- 

 glass indicated that he was not naturally so si- 

 lent, and that he could be social with one who 

 understood his language. Being unable to get 

 another grosbeak, I tried to give him compan- 

 ionship by placing a small glass against one end 

 of his cage. On seeing his reflection the bird 

 was greatly agitated, began his low, whining 

 cry, postured, bowed, turned, moved back and 

 forth, and at last left the cage and looked for 

 the stranger behind the glass. Not iinding him 

 he returned, had another interview with the 

 misleading image, and ended as before in seek- 

 ing him outside. At length he seemed to be 



