pute him, but after a few
moments' silent protest returned to the high perch, leaving the intruder
to eat and drink as he chose.

Another point to settle was the possession of the apple. The next time
the thrush, not warned by previous operations, hurried up to claim a
slice of the fruit which his foe had marked for his own, he was met by
resistance. To avoid the rush, the mocking-bird lifted himself a few
inches, but came down on the same spot. The thrush, astonished, but
thrush-like to the last, stood motionless where he had stopped, his body
drawn to a point, bill slightly open and turned toward the bold
intruder. That bird ignored his attitude and placidly went on eating,
and three similar experiences ended that annoyance.

One thing still remained unsettled: the mocking-bird decided to change
his residence. No reason was apparent, but he preferred a special place
in the room, a certain end of a particular shelf; and no matter what
cage was there, he insisted on taking possession. The day he determined
on this removal, he went in while the resident--the thrush--was out,
and, having eaten, proceeded to the upper perches, and began jumping
back and forth on them, as if at home. In due time the owner returned,
visited the food-dishes, and started for the upper regions, but was met
by a threatening attitude from the bird already there. He seemed to
think the matter not worth quarreling over, since he readily settled
himself on the middle perch, where he made a most elaborate and
deliberate toilet, dressing every feather with care, and spending a half
hour over the operation. All this time the invader stood on the top
perch, backed against the wires, his long tail on one side like the
train of a lady's dress, invincible determination in his manner. The
calm indifference of the house-owner evidently did not please him, and
the long drawn-out toilet was irritating; he grew thirsty, and dropped
to the floor to drink, when the thrush remonstrated by a low, rapid
"chook, chook, chook," and the mocking-bird made an impatient dive at
him. This silenced but apparently did not hurt the bird, who stayed as
long as he chose, and then quietly came out. From that moment the
usurper claimed the cage, and the amiable owner easily contented himself
with the one the other had deserted.

When the mocking-bird had thoroughly established himself in every right
and privilege he chose to consider his own, I hoped there would be
peace, but