occupied to take notice of everything that passed, I observed that a
number of small birds had flown in, and were briskly hopping over the
floor and tables, also perching quite fearlessly on the heads or
shoulders of the company, and that they were being fed with the
fragments. I took them to be sparrows and things of that kind, but they
did not look altogether familiar to me. One little fellow, most lively
in his motions, was remarkably like my old friend the robin, only the
bosom was more vivid, running almost into orange, and the wings and tail
were tipped with the same hue, giving it quite a distinguished
appearance. Another small olive-green bird, which I at first took for a
green linnet, was even prettier, the throat and bosom being of a most
delicate buff, crossed with a belt of velvet black. The bird that really
seemed most like a common sparrow was chestnut, with a white throat and
mouse-colored wings and tail. These pretty little pensioners
systematically avoided my neighborhood, although I tempted them with
crumbs and fruit; only one flew onto my table, but had no sooner done so
than it darted away again, and out of the room, as if greatly alarmed. I
caught the pretty girl's eye just then, and having finished eating, and
being anxious to join the conversation, for I hate to sit silent when
others are talking. I remarked that it was strange the little birds so
persistently avoided me.

"Oh no, not at all strange," she replied, with surprising readiness,
showing that she too had noticed it. "They are frightened at your
appearance."

"I must indeed appear strange to them," said I, with some bitterness,
and recalling the adventures of the morning. "It is to me a new and very
painful experience to walk about the world frightening men, cattle, and
birds; yet I suppose it is entirely due to the clothes I am wearing--and