118 PASSERES. — TROCHILID^. 



as if much distressed. This preference of a parti- 

 cular twig for alighting is observable in freedom, and 

 will suggest an analogy with the Flycatchers. I have 

 not observed it in our other species. It gave us a 

 means of capturing many, in addition to the net; 

 for by observing a spot of resort, and putting a little 

 birdlime on that twig, we could be pretty sure of 

 a bird in a few minutes. The boldest was rather 

 pugnacious, occasionally attacking his gentler and 

 more confiding companion, who always yielded and 

 fled ; when the assailant would perch and utter a 

 succession of shrill chirps, ^^ screep, screep, screep,'' 

 After a day or two, however, the persecuted one 

 plucked up courage, and actually played the tyrant 

 in his turn, interdicting his fellow from sipping 

 at the sweetened cup. Twenty times in succession 

 would the thirsty bird drop down upon the wing 

 to the glass, — which stood at the edge of a table 

 immediately beneath that part of the line, where 

 both at length were wont to perch, — but no sooner 

 was he poised in front and about to insert his 

 tongue, than the other would dart down with in- 

 conceivable swiftness, and wheeling so as to come 

 up beneath him, would drive him away from his 

 repast. He might fly to any other part of the 

 room unmolested, but an approach to the cup was 

 the signal for an instant assault. The ill-natured 

 fellow himself drank long and frequent draughts. 

 I noticed that no sooner had this individual reco- 

 vered his boldness than he recovered his voice 

 also, and both would screep pertinaciously and 

 shrilly, almost without intermission. When they 



