ost indifferent way. When the tanager
went down to eat, his escort accompanied him as far as the door perch,
where he stood and looked on earnestly, ready to return to his old place
the moment the luncheon was finished.

On the rare occasions that the self-elected hermit went out, the
goldfinch displayed great concern, evidently preferring to have his
favorite at home where he could defend him. He flew uneasily across from
the cage to his side, then back, as if to show him the way. He also
desired to watch the empty house, to preserve it from intrusion, but was
constantly divided between his duties of special porter, and bodyguard.
But he did his best, even then; he followed the wanderer. If the tanager
went to a perch the goldfinch at once alighted on the same, about a foot
away, and sidled up as near as he was allowed. He was free to come
within about three inches, but nearer he was driven off, so the little
fellow placed himself at this distance and there stayed patiently as
long as his friend remained. If the latter had been more responsive, I
believe the goldfinch would have nestled up against him.

The tanager sometimes strayed into a strange cage, and then the anxious
guard followed to the steps and even within, talking earnestly, and no
doubt pointing out the danger, yet if the owner unexpectedly appeared he
met him at the threshold and fiercely defended the door against the
proprietor himself. Occasionally the erratic recluse went to the
floor--a place never visited by his little attendant, whose trouble was
almost painful to see. He at once placed himself on the lowest perch,
stretched out and looked over, following every movement with his eyes,
in silence, as though the danger was too great to allow conversation,
and when his charge returned to a perch, he uttered a loud and joyous
call as though some peril had been escaped.

The stanch little friend had many chances to show his loyalty. The other
birds in the room were not slow to take advantage of one who never
defended himself. In particular a Brazilian cardinal, a bold saucy
fellow with a scarlet pointed crest and a loud voice, evidently
considered the tanager cage common ground, open to everybody, until the
goldfinch undertook its defense. It was amusing to see the small bird
stand just inside, and rage, puff himself out, wave his wings, and
fairly drive away the foe. So impertinent was the Brazilian that the
finch declared general war upon him, and ac