218 "THESE ARE YOUR BROTHERS." 



his loudest. The cardinal expresses disapproval 

 by sharp " Tsip's " and other sounds, but when 

 he becomes too enraged to contain himself he 

 sings ! It is certainly a strange way of show- 

 ing anger. He puffs out his feathers, holds his 

 quivering wings a little away from his sides, 

 erects his crest, and sways his body like a Chi- 

 nese mandarin in the tea-shops, only from side 

 to side, singing all the time at the top of his 

 voice. 



The goldfinch understands the meaning of 

 this demonstration, and it really seems to awe 

 him, for as long as the cardinal continues it he 

 stands meek and silent. Although fearing it 

 would be useless, I on one occasion fastened 

 open the door of the angry bird's cage, to put 

 him on more equal terms with his small foe. 

 But so far from helping matters, the goldfinch 

 became more saucy than before, even venturing 

 into the enemy's cage for hemp-seed which he 

 spied upon the floor. The cardinal hurried 

 down when he saw this ; but the smaller bird 

 was so quick in his movements that he could go 

 in, snatch a seed, and be out before his clumsy 

 adversary reached him. Once outside, where he 

 knew perfectly well he would not be followed 

 by the irate proprietor, the small rogue stood 

 on a perch not two inches from the open door, 

 calmly cracked and ate his seed, and then 



