e care and closer
between the rails, so that the youngsters might not get out and wander
off.

"Frank again baited his log-trap, and used for a decoy one of the
gobblers, which he tied by the leg to a rail. In this way several
others were caught; when the birds at length became shy, and kept away
from the penn altogether. However, we had now as many as we could feed,
until our corn should ripen and be gathered.

"From this time every day saw new additions to our aviary. Frank had
procured the bark of the _ilex opaca_, or American holly; and this, when
macerated in water, and then fermented and cleared of its fibres, made
the very best bird-lime. A large cage had been constructed out of
bow-wood with the straight reeds of the cane, and divided into many
compartments--so that birds of different species should be separated
from each other. In a short time the cage was seen to contain specimens
of the blue-jay and red-bird, or Virginia nightingale, orioles of
several species, and doves of two distinct kinds. There were also
several Carolina paroquets; and Frank had succeeded in capturing a bird
of a very rare kind, which, I believe, is known to the Indians as the
`wakon.' It was the American bird of paradise; and, like those of the
Eastern world, had several long feathers growing from its tail, and
stretching away gracefully behind it. In the cage were also finches of
different varieties, and beautiful bright plumage. Among others were
the green bird, the redstart, and the cock of the woods; the little blue
bird also, the red-winged starring, and the orange-headed troupiale--
which last species migrated in large flocks into the valley. There was
a number of small cages, which had been constructed for the smallest of
all birds--the humming-birds--and Frank had caught no less than a dozen
different kinds of these most beautiful creatures, which he daily
supplied with fresh flowers. Another cage, apart from all the rest,
held an inmate that; so far as appearance went, you would have said had
no right to be thus distinguished in having a house all to himself. He
was of a sober grey colour, somewhat of the wagtail shape, with long
black legs, and claws of a dirty hue; and was altogether an ill-favoured
bird, not any better-looking than a common house-sparrow. Had you known
nothing more about him than his outward appearance, you would hardly
have deigned to waste a second look upon him. The moment, however, his
bl