k one into my bird-room, resolving
that the moment he began to "mock" he should be given to some one who
liked having the street in his house. My bird was very obliging in the
matter; six months I watched him daily, and he was kind enough not to
utter a sound, except an occasional harsh "chack." Probably he had too
much liberty and too many interests about him; whatever the reason, I
thanked him for it, and heartily enjoyed the study of his manners.

The bird was perhaps the most intelligent one I ever watched, the
cat-bird being his only rival in that regard. Fear was unknown to him,
and from the moment of his arrival he was interested in everything that
took place around him; looking at each bird in succession; making close
study of every member of the family; noticing the sounds of the street,
including the sparrow broils on the porch-roof; in fact, extremely
wide-awake and observing. To the goldfinch's song he gave attention,
standing motionless except for a slight nervous jerk of one wing,
looking and listening as intently as though studying the notes for
future use. The freedom of the birds in the room surprised him, as he
showed plainly by the eager glances with which he followed every
movement and marked each act. Upon joining the party of the free, he
took note of pictures in a newspaper, distinguishing objects in the cut,
which he tried to pick up, as a small wheel and a bar. In colors he had
a choice, and his selection was red; from a vase of roses of many hues
he never failed to draw out the red one to pull it to pieces on the
floor.

Liberty the mocking-bird emphatically enjoyed, and at once recognized a
string attached to his door as a device to deprive him of it; after
vainly trying to pick it apart, he betook himself to another cage, and
refused to go back to his own. In any strange cage he stood quietly
while I walked up to him, and made no attempt to leave his quarters,
knowing perfectly well that I did not care to shut the door upon him;
but when at home I could not lift my hands, or make the slightest
movement, without causing him to dart out of the cage instantly. Having
contention with his room-mates about the bits of apple put out for all
to enjoy, he often carried away a piece to eat at his leisure. From
habit he flew first to the top of a cage, that being his favorite
perching place; but he evidently appreciated that, if he dropped the
morsel, he should lose it through the wires; and after look