ldfinch was bathing the second time he came out, and he went
directly to the table and perched on the side of the dish. Now the one
thing the little fellow most delighted in was his morning bath, and he
at once resented the intrusion of the stranger. He flew at him with open
beak and lifted wings, scolding vigorously, in fact gave him so hostile
a reception that he quickly retired to the top of the cage, where he
stood a long time. Afterward also, the goldfinch showed so strong a
determination that the intruder should not enjoy his beloved bath, that
at last I had to keep him in his cage while the new-comer had a chance
at the water.

This did not go on long, however, for very soon the tanager deliberately
gave up the world of the bird-room, and insisted on remaining in his
cage. In vain was his door set open with the others, in vain did the
birds splash and splatter the water, he would not come out, though he
did not mope or lose his appetite. In truth, it seemed merely as if he
scorned the advantages offered; if he could not go out free into the
trees, he would as lief stay in his cage--and he did. This is a not
uncommon habit of cage birds. They often need to be driven or coaxed
out. Having once learned that the cage is home with all its comforts and
conveniences, they prefer to be there.

The tanager was always a very shy bird; he did not like to be looked at.
If he could manage it, he would never eat while any one saw him. Often,
when I put a bit of apple or a meal-worm in his cage, he stood and
looked at it and at me, but did not move till I turned away, or walked
out of his sight, when he instantly pounced upon it as if starved. To
make him altogether happy I put a screen around one corner of his cage,
behind which were his dishes, and after that it was very droll to see
him crouch behind that and eat, every moment or two stretching up to
glance over the top and see if I had moved. If I stirred as though about
to leave my chair, he at once whisked to the upper perch as if he had
been caught in a crime.

The first I noticed of the goldfinch's friendliness to him was after he
had lived with us five or six months.

This small bird, in a room of larger ones, was somewhat driven about. I
do not mean hurt, but if any one wanted a certain perch he did not
hesitate to take it, even if it were already occupied by so little a
fellow. He soon learned that near the tanager he was not often molested,
and he began first to