302 7L STRAND MW AGAZLINL.

but won't stand any nonsense. He has been observed to mspect the small dove-cots fixed upon the trecs in the inclosure, as considering it ill-fitting that the subject should enjoy a roofed habitation and the king none; but considering the habitation itself equally ill-htting— except regarded as a waistcoat—appears not yet to have attcml_‘itcd to take possession.

Sam, stately bird, presides over his subjects with a proper majesty. He looks from aloft upon thewr little weaknesses, their small fads, their quarrels and their friend- ships, and 15 amused, in a lofty and superior sort of way, just as you and I are, my fricnd. He Tooks from

' above with mdifferent

interest on the rulls,

for instance. The ruffs are small, but there is character about them. Sce two approach cach other from opposite dircctions - looking, perhaps, for something to cat. They meet, stop, straddle wide their legs, and blow up their neck-feathers. Regarding cach a5 other fixedly, they rock solemnly to and fro. Then they let fall their collars and go off cach on his way, as though nothing had happened. Tt s a rude courtesy- 4 sort of ruff ctiquette, in o fact. Sometimes, however, this putting on of frills—as the same thing will do in other places leads to fights. And over all reigns the majestic Sam—over the fluffy-necked hittle rulfy the perky hammer-head, the dissipated spoonbill, the jolly ibis, the sedate screamer, and the excitable egrcet. Nothing can disturb Sam’s scerenity—-nothing, at any rate, which can happen m this aviary. Onec thing might do it—a thing I hope never to sce happen. An ill-natured keeper might bring n a common goose, and introduce him. Now, [ believe that this would cut Sam’s feelings sorely, because the flamingo, after all (although here it s treason to say $0), 1s really only a kind of goose, n the classification

of the spiteful naturalist ; and publicly

• ,\a‘flm to bring him face to face with his

vulgar and ungraccful poor relation

R N / \'\\ //

, \\\\\\x‘ o N\ Y

PSS |

CORRACA-AK )T

1LL-FITTING,

A

eprraste st s [T

RUFF AMENITIES.

would give Sam away cruclly among his subjects. The poor relation is a mere low caricature of Sam 1n neck and legs ; and a thing which, in its own ridiculous way, makes a preposterous showing off and posing of its burlesque neck.

Which reflection leads us to another: that the birds in this inclosure may be classificd mto two sorts: those who are proud of their necks— as the ruffs and flamingoces ; and those who are ashamed of them--as the herons, who bury them