98 PROTECTING HER SPOUSE. 



in the room. Quite otherwise was his little 

 spouse : quick, nervous, easily frightened, yet 

 assuming the responsibility of everything, even 

 her lord's comfort and safety. Her very atti- 

 tude was different ; she held her body horizon- 

 tal, never perpendicular, as he did; and she 

 was more lively in movement. She was a 

 brave little soul, too. Even when greatly 

 annoyed by a larger bird, she never failed to 

 stand upon the defensive, open her mouth, and 

 sometimes remonstrate in low, gentle talk. 

 Nor did she — after she felt at home — allow a 

 stranger to enter her door. She boldly faced 

 the largest bird in the room, and always forced 

 him to retire, while her mate stood calm and cool 

 and " wise," on the upper perch. More than 

 this, she seemed to feel it part of her duty to 

 defend and protect his lordship, as though he 

 were too fragile to come into contact with the 

 rough side of life. Nothing could be droller 

 than to see her stand guard while he bathed in 

 the common dish on the table, and fly furiously 

 at the grosbeak, or any bird coming too near her 

 precious idol, who meanwhile placidly pro- 

 ceeded with his bath in the most matter-of-fact 

 manner, as though expecting to be protected. 

 I have seen similar conduct in a wild pair : the 

 female defending her nestlings against some 

 fancied danger, scolding, flying around the 



