230 AN UNCOMFORTABLE PERCH. 



beside him he took to clinging upon the outside 

 of the cage as near to the tanager's usual seat 

 as he could get. The only perching place he 

 had there was a band of tin that held the wires 

 steady, but in spite of what must have been 

 the discomfort of the position, there he hung by 

 the hour, talking, calling, and looking at his 

 idol within. He left the spot only to eat and 

 bathe, and I think if the cage had been sup- 

 plied with seed he would never have gone at 

 all. When the bird inside hopped to the perch 

 at the other end of the cage, which was the 

 extent of his wanderings, the finch at once fol- 

 lowed on the outside, always placing himself as 

 near as possible. It was really touching, to all 

 but the object of it, who took it in the most 

 indifferent way. When the tanager went down 

 to eat, his escort accompanied him as far as 

 the door perch, where he stood and looked on 

 earnestly, ready to return to his old place the 

 moment the luncheon was finished. 



On the rare occasions that the self-elected 

 hermit went out, the goldfinch displayed great 

 concern, evidently preferring to have his favor- 

 ite at home where he could defend him. He 

 flew uneasily across from the cage to his side, 

 then back, as if to show him the way. He also 

 desired to watch the empty house, to preserve 

 it from intrusion, but was constantly divided 



