The Professor was a very great personage, and his coat was covered all over with decorations and bits of colored ribbon, like those on a kite’s tail.  Perhaps, like a kite’s tail, they weighted and steadied him, and kept him from mounting too high into the clouds.  The Professor looked at the bird through his spectacles, and nodded his head sagaciously.  “I have seen this species before,” he said, “though not often.  It belongs to a very ancient family indeed, and I scarcely thought that any specimen of it remained in the present day.  Quite a museum bird; and in excellent plumage, too.  Sir, I congratulate you.”

“You do not, then, consider, Professor,” said the traveler, “that this bird has about it anything transcendental—­that it is—­in fact—­ not altogether—­pardon me the expression—­a terrestrial bird?” For he was afraid to say the truth, that the bird really came from beyond the sunset.

The decorated personage was much amused.  He laughed pleasantly, and answered in bland tones, “Oh dear, no; I recognise quite well the species to which it belongs.  An ancient species, as I have said, and one indeed that Science has done her utmost to extirpate, purposely in part, because it is proved to be a great devastator of the crops, and thus directly injurious to the interests of mankind, and partly by accident, for it has a most remarkable song-note, and scientific men have destroyed all the specimens they have been able to procure, in the hope of discovering the mechanism by which the vocal tones are produced.  But, pardon me, are you a stranger in this city, sir?”

“I am,” responded the traveler, “and permit me to assure you that I take a lively interest in the scientific and intellectual pursuits with which in this place, I perceive, you are largely occupied.”

“We have a Brotherhood of Learning here, sir,” returned the Professor; “we are all Progressionists.  I trust you will remain with us and take part in our assemblies.”  But, as he said that, the fairy bird suddenly lifted up his song and warned the traveler, crying in the language of the country beyond the sunset, “Beware! beware!  This is an ogre, he will kill you, and mix your bones with his bread!  Be warned in time, and fly; fly, if you cannot fight!”

“Dear me,” said the Professor, “what a very remarkable note!  I am convinced that the structure and disposition of this bird’s vocal organs must be unique.  Speaking for my scientific brethren, as well as for myself, I may say that we should hold ourselves singularly indebted to you if you would permit us the opportunity of adding so rare a specimen to our national collection.  It would be an acquisition, sir, I assure you, for which we would show ourselves profoundly grateful.  Indeed, I am sure that the Society to which I have the honor to belong would readily admit to its Fellowship the donor of a treasure so inestimable.”