ECONOMICAL BIRD. 
135 
believe he has failed to state that he was exceed- 
ingly economical — a virtue so highly commended 
nowadays, that, for his credit, I would not omit 
saying that he possessed it in a remarkable de- 
gree. As he was captured without baggage, the 
matter of food gave him the only opportunity for 
its display. About that he was very particular, 
not eating more than he needed, and burying 
carefully in his bedding, for the next meal, every 
mouthful he had left. 
Dr. Coues has also failed to speak of his pas- 
sion for mice. I think they were his dream by 
day and his search by night. He not only saw 
and seized them when put within his reach, but 
imagined he saw them when he did not. Mr. 
Maxwell had a practical illustration of this. One 
day, when he put a single finger into his cage in 
such a way that his hand was hidden, the ferret 
instantly had a vision of a “ Wee, sleekit, cow'rin’, 
tim’rous beastie,” and as instantly his teeth closed 
on the finger. It was not until Mr. Maxwell, 
with his other hand, choked him almost to death, 
that he was convinced he had made a mistake. 
Any person's finger might have been put into the 
cage with impunity, had only the hand been 
visible. 
