222 Instinct of Birds. 



great composure. Presently the canary returned to his own 

 home, entered, and placed himself upon the perch beside the 

 parroquet. The latter at first took no notice ; they had a few 

 nutters about the cage, without any real fighting ; the canary 

 did not find it comfortable, and got out again, the other still 

 keeping his hold. After this abandonment, while he was con- 

 soling himself by hopping about upon the carpet, the Aus- 

 tralian descended from the perch to the threshold. And here 

 he gave another proof of his - sagacity ; the door being wide 

 open, and more difficult to draw to than when, as in the former 

 instance, it was half open, after two or three ineffectual efforts 

 with his beak to bring it to, he hopped down, went to the end 

 furthest from the hinge, drew it half to, placed himself upon 

 the threshold, finished the operation by closing it and fastening 

 the wire latch once more. It remains to be added that the 

 canary-bird, finding it impossible to get in, took possession of 

 the other cage, but had not the wit to close the door of that, 

 which was closed for him. Here a long struggle took place; 

 he could not fix himself comfortably upon the perch; the 

 swing hung too low, and in attempting to place himself in the 

 centre, the swing came against his sides, and he continued to 

 flutter from one end of the perch to the other, the swing still 

 keeping in motion. At length, after many useless efforts, the 

 swing hanging rather transversely and affording him a trifle 

 more room on the one side than on the other, he selected the 

 widest aperture of the two, trifling as the difference was, and 

 the evening being now advanced, tucked his head under his 

 wing, and went to sleep. Thus they passed their night. It 

 is but right to add, that ultimately justice was done, and they 

 were restored to their cages on the morrow. 



