146 TRANSIENT GUESTS IN THE BIRD-ROOM. 



in the matter. She began by a sweet call, so 

 loud that even the human listeners understood 

 it was not meant for her intended spouse in the 

 cage with her. The bird appreciated it at 

 once, as was evident. He had been charmed 

 to receive her, but that call and the not unwill- 

 ing answer from the opposite neighbor infuri- 

 ated him, and he scolded roundly in true, 

 stupid, human fashion, reproaching, instead of 

 trying to win. All the more she turned her 

 attentions to the gay vis-d-vis, who answered 

 her calls with joyous replies and much fine 

 singing. 



Now began a most curious exhibition of jeal- 

 ousy on the part of the unfortunate master of 

 the large cage, which was carried on for several 

 days. When she took much notice of the 

 stranger over the way, her legal spouse resented 

 it with scolding, blustering, and refusing her at 

 night a foothold on the favorite perch, even 

 pecking her if she attempted to go upon it. If 

 she had been tolerably good during the day, he 

 would allow her to partake of his perch, al- 

 ways, however, gently pushing her to the end 

 farthest away from his rival, and drawing very 

 closely up to her, between her and the enemy. 

 This state of things lasted some days, and no 

 human hand was raised to settle the trouble, 

 for no one suspected the depths of feeling in 



