k and a chirp, as much as to say, "Do let me alone, I'm busy; I've
got my living to get, and grubs seem scarce." Richard was the only bird
I have ever had who learnt the nature of windows, he never flew against
them; he had one or two severe concussions, and being a very sensible
bird he "concluded" he wouldn't do it again; he would fly backwards and
forwards in the drawing-room in swift flight, but I never feared either
the windows or the fire, as he avoided both.

Several times Master Richard was found flying about in the drawing-room,
and yet no one had let him out; we could only suppose that by some
mischance the door must have been left open; yet we all felt morally
certain it had been fastened properly, and there was much puzzlement
about the matter.

However, the mystery was soon solved by my watching Richard's
proceedings. I heard a prolonged hammering and found he was at work upon
the hasp of his cage door. He managed to raise it up higher and higher,
till by a well-directed peck he sent it clear out of the loop of wire
which held it in its place. Still the door was shut, and it required a
good many more pecks to force it open, but he succeeded in time, and out
he flew--delighted to find himself entirely master of the situation.
Then I watched with much amusement his deliberate survey of the room.

I was ill at the time, and he first flew to greet me and talk a little;
he hopped upon my hand, and holding firmly on my forefinger he went
through his usual morning toilette, first an application to his oil
gland, then he touched up all his plumage, drew out his wing and tail
feathers, fluttered himself into shape, and when quite in order he began
to examine the contents of my breakfast tray; took a little sugar,
looked to see if there were any grubs under the tray cloth, peered into
the cream jug, decided that he didn't like the salt, gave me two or
three hard pecks to express his profound affection, and then went off on
a voyage of discovery, _autour de ma chambre_. He squeezed himself
between every ornament on the mantlepiece, flew to the drawers, and
found there some grapes which were very much to his taste; so he was
busy for some time helping himself. He visited every piece of furniture,
threw down all the little items that he could lift, and, as I was
reading, I did not particularly notice what he was about, until he came
on a small table near my bed, and then I heard a suspicious noise, and
turned to find