126 CURIOUS HOMES AN'D THEIR TENANTS. 



far-fetched and absurd conjectures to account for 

 their presence there. 



But it is not as nest-builders alone or even princi- 

 pally that the bayas manifest pre-eminence among 

 birds ; for as trick birds they are probably unequaled, 

 rivaling and even surpassing dogs and monkeys in 

 this respect. 



When taken from the nest and brought up by the 

 hand, they can be taught to go down into pits and 

 dry wells and recover any small article dropped 

 therein, carry notes to any designated place on a 

 given signal, or snatch away a hairpin or any small 

 article of jewelry from any person pointed out, be- 

 sides a great many other tricks much more surprising 

 than these. It may be said, indeed, that only close, 

 loving attention, a faculty of sympathetic interpreta- 

 tion, and expenditure of a little leisure time are re- 

 quired to discover and develop an acquaintance with 

 the ways and wisdom of our commonest birds that 

 will repay a thousandfold the trouble taken with them. 



THE CROSSBILL. 



A N3ST BUILT IN MIDWINTEK. 



Some caged birds, though they do not beat them- 

 selves against the bars of their cage and die of fright 

 and despair, are never quite reconciled to captivity, 

 never forget their former liberty, and never cease to 

 long to set their wings to free, untrammeled flight. 



