or thrasher on the
approach of darkness became exceedingly restless, flying about his
cage, going over and under and around his perches, posturing in
extraordinary ways, uttering at every moment a strange, harsh-breathing
sound. Two smaller thrushes met the evening hour by fluttering, and a
queer sort of dance elsewhere described. Two orchard orioles saluted the
twilight by gymnastics on the roof of the cage. The bluebirds made
careful and deliberate arrangements for a comfortable night, while the
grosbeak differed from all in simply fluffing himself out, and settling
himself, on the first hint of dark, in the chosen corner, whence he
scarcely moved, and as soon as objects grew indistinct he laid his head
quietly in its feather pillow and stirred no more. The brightest
gaslight an hour later did not disturb him; if a noise wakened him, he
simply looked up to see what was the matter, but did not move, and soon
turned back to his rest, when slight jerks of his wings, and faint
complaining sounds, told that he not only slept, but dreamed.

The bearer of the rosy shield was a persistent individual; having once
taken a notion into his head, nothing would make him forget it or change
his mind. Fully settled in his preference for a certain perch on the
window, the coldest day in winter, with the wind blowing a gale through
the crack between the sashes, would not make him desert it. Driving him
away from the spot had not the slightest effect on him, he returned the
moment he was left in peace. Thinking that another cage was more
convenient for his use, nothing short of absolute shutting the door
would keep him out of it. Nor did he forget about it either; if the door
was accidentally left open, after being closed for weeks, he entered as
quickly as though he had been in every day.

This bird never showed any playfulness of disposition; indeed, he had
too much dignity to do so. He never flew around the room as though he
liked to use his wings, although they were perfect, and there was
nothing to prevent if he chose. Nor did he display curiosity about his
surroundings. The only things he appeared to notice were the doings of
the birds and people in the room, and the moving panorama without, which
latter he always viewed with equanimity, although the sound of a
hand-organ aroused him to a sort of mild fury.

As spring advanced, the beautiful grosbeak grew tuneful and often added
his exquisite song to the rippling music of the s