OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



we tried uncovering the cage; but to see us sitting free 

 in the out-of-doors only added insult to her injured^ 

 feelings and she threw herself from swing to floor and 

 back again until we were forced to cover the cage. 



It took her nearly a week to grow accustomed to 

 her new room in the city, and although we placed her 

 bath and food and cage near the open window, she 

 only went to them when forced to by her needs, al 

 ways perching as far from that window as possible. To 

 be sure it was cold weather but to that she had been 

 gradually inured; quantities of sparrows were flying 

 and calling just outside, but she scorned to notice them. 

 The city noises troubled her, she sat morose and hud 

 dled on the gas fixture, responding in almost a timid 

 manner to our advances. One afternoon before she 

 was put in her cage for the night, she saw a flame 

 come from that bright perch which she had chosen 

 for her own; it is possible she may have brushed it 

 with her wing, but never again could she be induced 

 to perch on the brass tube, confining her excursions, 

 when not on her food table to the tops of the picture 



172 



