364 Rob: A Bird Biography. [June, 
of danger. All was consternation in the barn-yard. Away sped 
each callow brood to their own particular mamma, who, though 
unable to see any danger in the air, yet supposing the alarm to 
come from some watchful mother that did, instantly took her 
own charge under her wings. Rob’s mimicries were generally 
perfect. In executing some of them he was so loud-voiced as to 
be heard a long way off. Persons at quite a distance have been 
„attracted by these notes, and have called to see our “ mocking- 
bird,” and been much surprised to learn that it was “only a robin.” 
The senses of birds must be very acute. I would instance 
in Rob’s case that of scent. He was extravagantly fond of fresh 
beef, and though in a different room, could tell the arrival of the 
butcher’s boy in the kitchen, when he would scream with impa- 
tience. Little strips of raw beef were fed him. If when receiving 
one morsel he saw ancther in the fingers of his mistress, he would 
drop it on the floor of his cage and wait for the next bit with 
nervous impatience; and so would he do until he had secured all 
that his sharp eyes saw, which done, he ate these delicacies in a 
perfectly orderly way. How unlike a dog which swallows as fast 
as he can the meat given it. But Rob was particular, the meat. 
so providently put ‘on the floor of his cage was thus rendered 
dirty ; the knowing bird would take it piece by piece and wash it 
in his water tub. This conduct showed the nearest approach to 
abstract reasoning that I ever saw the bird make. Many of the 
birds like this condiment of leisure with their food. How often 
have I seen a fowl pick up a grain of corn, then drop it and look 
at it, then pick it up, drop and inspect again several times, then 
swallow it, and all with no other logic in the matter that I could 
see, than to make the most of one’s blessings. So with Rob, 
having got his store before him, he enjoyed it in a leisurely and 
sensible way. He was very fond of the larve which we used to 
find in chestnuts. Even these he could smell afar off, and would 
go into ecstacies, making a lively chattering talk, as one was 
brought to his cage. The presentation of a spider was a grand 
event. Butas to earth-worms, he had a sou! above all such. So 
far as Rob was concerned, the early bird was entirely welcome to 
them. 
I think our pet must have been five years old when he had a 
hard time molting, and the result, too, was quite notable. When 
the large feathers began to come, two white ones appeared in the 
