gonist; he always conquered when hostilities reached
the point of a personal encounter, but he was soon soured, and declined
to meet the enemy. Two or three times they flew up together, like
quarrelsome cocks, but the decisive and final dispute was over the
bathing-dish. It happened that morning that the Mexican came out before
the goldfinch was shut up, and hence the the mocking-bird's door was not
yet opened. He flew at once to the top of his neighbor's cage to dress
his feathers and shake himself out. It looked like a deliberate insult,
and the captive in his cage evidently so regarded it; he crouched on the
upper perch and opened his mouth at the enemy, who calmly went on with
his operations. The moment the finch was safe at home I opened the door,
and the mocking-bird came out in haste. Pretending not to see the
Mexican, he descended to the bathing-dish, doubtless to cool his heated
blood. The first splash, however, interested the enemy on his roof, and
he flew to the floor; but the bather paid no apparent attention to him,
and went on with his business. The Mexican approached slowly, a step at
a time, with a low, warning "chack," which meant, "Make way there, I'm
coming." The mocking-bird, manifestly hearing him, did not take the
hint, nor look at his assailant, but serenely continued his splashing.
The Mexican advanced to within six inches before he was convinced that
force would be necessary. When he decided upon an attack, he manifested
it by a grotesque little hop a few inches into the air, but this not
alarming the enemy he drew near to the dish. Now at last the bather
condescended to notice him. He stood up in the water and faced his
adversary, bowing rather slowly and with dignity, feathers ruffled, and
beak opening in the curious way usual with him,--stretching it wide,
then closing it, and constantly repeating the operation.

After looking a moment at this peculiar display, the Mexican hopped upon
the edge of the dish, and in the same instant, as though moved by the
same machinery, the mocking-bird sprang backward out upon the floor. The
usurper paid him no further attention, but proceeded to bathe, while his
discomfited rival took a stand on the edge of the disputed dish, which
was ten inches in diameter, and fanned his wings violently. I cannot
otherwise name this extraordinary movement, the wings raised high above
his head, and moved quickly back and forth with a fanning motion. The
Mexican turned sudde