102 SBE NIPPED HIS TOES. 



ing his breast on the floor, and opening his 

 wings to their full extent. 



This bird's anxiety when his mate was out 

 of his sight did not, however, compare with her 

 unrest in his absence, for her affection seemed 

 to be of the motherly or protecting sort. Be- 

 fore they became familiar with the room, and 

 learned that, though unseen, the partner was 

 not lost, the moment he disappeared from view 

 she began running around the cage excitedly, 

 looking everywhere, and calling loudly. At first 

 he answered, but, deciding to try his wings, he 

 swept around the room, came — as some birds 

 do — against the window, and fell to the floor, 

 when instantly both were perfectly silent. She 

 looked out apprehensively, and as soon as he 

 recovered breath he flew to the top of their own 

 cage. Then her solicitude turned to annoyance ; 

 she went to the top perch, and gently nipped his 

 toes (which she never did to strangers) as a 

 slight reproof. He became accustomed to going 

 out and in sooner than his mate, for she was shy 

 and inclined to stay at home, and she suffered 

 much anxiety ; before long she too grew accus- 

 tomed to freedom, and expressed no further 

 fears when he was out. 



Making arrangements for the night was an 

 interesting event in bluebird life. They always 

 selected the highest perch in the darkest end 



