i86 
NATURE STUDY. 
to enjoy music, and will sit with feathers fluffed down over 
her feet, her head on one side, listening, and will often 
join in the singing, stopping as soon as the singers stop, 
and joining again with them. 
Her cage is usually left open in the morning for several 
hours, and she goes in and out at will. There is a dish of 
ferns on the table, which she admires very much, but, like 
your baby sister, she thinks everything is good to eat, so, 
unless the ferns are removed before the cage door is opened, 
they have their heads nipped off in a very short time. She 
likes to be around when apples are pared, and cracks the 
seeds with her strong bill, and eats them greedily, but is 
particularly fond of peanuts. When we are at dinner, she 
will scold and beg till her door is opened, when she at once 
flies to my shoulder, and expects to have a taste of every¬ 
thing upon my plate, and thinks it is a little better if she 
can take it from my lips. 
But, as this is a true story (as I write. Miss Peggotty 
sits on my shoulder, and gives an occasional bite—a love 
bite—to my ear or cheek), I must admit that this pet of 
ours is sometimes naughty. She does not always mind, 
and is often saucy and mischievous. When a dear white- 
haired lady was visiting us, this saucy bird would light on 
her head and try to pull out the silver threads ; then she 
would nibble her glasses, aad turn her head from side to 
side, and look at grandma in a very impudent manner. 
When the spectacles were left on the table, Peggotty 
would seize them, and once carried them a short distance 
and dropped them upon the floor, then flew off with a sharp 
‘ ‘peepk ! there ! ’ ’ 
Matches and toothpicks are scattered all over the floor, 
if she has a chance to get at them ; the needles and pins on 
the cushion are pulled out daily. I have seen her pull 
pins out and put them back in the cushion, but she usual¬ 
ly leaves them where they chance to fall. 
I have time to tell you of but one more of Peggy’s pranks. 
