42 HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



of fruit, and has a habit of returning to the same 

 spot. In the great cluster of fruit of the Spanish-bay- 

 onet he works systematically ; he does not peck the 

 whole cluster indiscriminately, but takes one berry at a 

 time, and this one lasts him several days. So among 

 grapes he has a particular spot when he feeds, but he 

 overlooks and takes care of all within his dominion. If 

 these birds are unmolested by man, they will regulate 

 their own affairs so as to assist him. 



The clergyman before mentioned had a near neighbor, 

 who, finding a mocking-bird eating his grapes, shot 

 him. Lawlessness now reigned among the birds, and 

 the neighbor kept on shooting until a large number 

 were slaughtered. The result was he lost all of his 

 grapes. 



The most- familiar bird that frequents the grounds is 

 the great Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). 

 This bold and voluble songster is about six inches in 

 length, considerably larger than the house wren {Trog- 

 lodytes mdon), and very inquisitive and egotistic with- 

 al. He comes into my study while I sit quietly at the 

 table, and asserts his importance, while he looks me 

 squarely in the eye, and then coolly proceeds to inspect 

 the various things in the room. He peers behind the 

 pictures on the wall, and looks into every nook and cor- 

 ner. Evidently he is thinking of taking up permanent 

 quarters in my room, without as much as saying "By 

 your leave." The mate is more timid; she simply 

 stands in the door-way while her self-complacent lord 



