278 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 
to rend his delicate "heart as well as tympanum. Never shall 
I forget one droll scene. One day, Bem found on the floor a 
white grape which he seemed to be disposed comfortably to dis- 
cuss, after having rolled it out into the broad sunshine. Just 
at this moment the thrush stepped up in a cool and dignified 
manner, and carried the grape off — dropped it in the shade, 
and deliberately drawing up one foot among his feathers, 
seemed to say : "I claim this grape as my own, I stand on 
the defensive, come and get it if you dare !" — so closed the 
" off" eye, and looked as if the matter was settled to his en- 
tire satisfaction. 
Bem had been in the very act of pecking the grape 
when it was so unceremoniously withdrawn ; he drew him- 
self up on tip-toe fairly with astonishment, his eye seemed 
to grow larger and rounder, the feathers on his head stood 
alternately erect and clung close to the scalp ; he stood a mo- 
ment or two, and then with a loud "mew," darted forward 
to re-capture the stolen fruit, but the thrush coolly and si- 
lently met him with open mouth and body thrown forward, 
yet still covering the grape. Bem's wit returned to him — ^he 
quietly turned off, as if it was a small matter anyhow. We 
were astonished — was Bem a coward after all ? would he per- 
mit this bird, even if he was larger, to impose upon him in 
this fashion, and he able to whip mocking birds at that ? "We 
shook our heads ; if Bem does that we shall withdraw his 
laurels. But see ! he comes cautiously about the thrush — 
what does he mean ? ah, we perceive ; Bem has sagaciously 
only changed his tactics, we will watch him ; he thinks the 
thrush will want some dinner pretty soon, and then, as Bem dis- 
dains to be called quarrelsome, he will quietly appropriate his 
treasure. Four hours things retained this position, the thrush 
never moving more than six inches from his post, though 
evidently becoming hungry and weary, while Bem silently 
wandered about the room, feasting in the most provokingly 
cool way in both cages, and continually making inadvertent 
incursions in the neighborhood of his enemy, as if for the 
