The first evidence of Bumptious’ character becomes apparent early in the film when his wife’s pet canary having been killed, we find him at a taxidermist’s arranging to have the pet stuffed. He considers the price exorbitant and nonchalantly intimates that he can do the work himself equally as skillfully and at a considerably lower figure. The old taxidermist smiles, but Bumptious, wagging his head, takes himself off and consults numberless books until he feels that he is filled to the brim with wisdom on the subject of bird stuffing. And then we see him provided with full paraphernalia, in fact, with enough to prepare for exhibition a whole menagerie, and finally we see the finished product of his work. But here his trouble begins. The wife fails to recognize her darling pet in the terrible monstrosity which his workmanship has provided. The stuffed bird looks like anything but a canary, and his wife and daughter tell him so; but Bumptious feels that his talents are not appreciated and, indignant over what he considers unjustifiable criticism, hies him to a neighboring “drinkery” to drown his sorrows. Now the café is known as the “Owl’s Retreat,” and Bumptious’ eye immediately lights on a stuffed owl which occupies a prominent place near the bar. Filled with his acquired wisdom, he points out to the barkeeper how foolish it is to keep such a bad piece of workmanship in the public view, and criticizes the slant of the head, the artificial beak and eyes and the unnatural position of the legs. Then all of a sudden the bird turns and looks at him, flaps its wings and seems to resent the criticism. The shock is disconcerting to a man of Bumptious’ character, and he has to admit his defeat in this case and acknowledge that the drinks are on him.