82 WILD LIFE AND THE CAMERA 



that he was a regular spoiled child. His cage, 

 with several others, was hung in a large wire 

 enclosure, and of this domain Bluey considered 

 himself absolute monarch; he would go into his 

 cage only for food and water, or to drive out some 

 intruder, for he was cock-of-the-walk, and the other 

 birds gave way to him, even those that were larger 

 and stronger ; Fluff and She, the pair of rose- 

 breasted Grosbeaks, were frightened into a state 

 of abject terror when Bluey threatened them, and 

 this he did quite frequently, seeming to enjoy their 

 complete discomfiture. Any attention which we 

 might pay to other birds called forth an angry 

 remonstrance from this little autocrat. He even 

 objected to any bird sitting on one's shoulder — 

 a perch he considered his own right and privilege, 

 and one that he fully intended no other bird should 

 share. 



At times it became necessary to shut him in 

 his cage, and he would then content himself for a 

 few moments by giving vent to his displeasure in 

 repeated calls — sharp, impatient notes that always 

 showed his lordship was angry. If no one paid 

 attention to him, cage fighting would begin, and 

 he would bang his head against the wires. It was 

 not long before he had torn out all the forehead 

 feathers, and with his little bald head he was not 

 an object of beauty. After taking a bath, which 

 he did once or twice each day, his appearance was 

 positively ludicrous. His mind, however, was far 

 above such things as personal looks, and he became 

 more and more affectionate and companionable, 

 always happy if only allowed to nestle snugly m 



