18 JULY 1908, Page 17

[TO THI EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR"] STR,—Referring to Mr. A.

C. Benson's letter in your last issue, may I say that I have noticed much the same kind of behaviour in a canary which was allowed to fly about the room at mealtimes ? He would study, and occasionally become very excited over, the reflection of himself in any of the silver or plated articles on the table. If any of these were removed while he was so occupied, the bird would get very angry and fly after the person removing them. I do not, however, think that the canary was actuated so much by vanity as by the impression that the reflection was another bird, whose further acquaintance he was anxious but found it difficult to cultivate.

—I am, Sir, &e., ALFRED THOMAS. 12 Clorane Gardens, Hampstead.