100 HABITS Iff CAPTIVITY. 



yielded and fled ; the victor would then resort 

 to his perch, and utter a succession of shrill 

 chirps, " screep, screep, screep" as if in triumph. 

 In a few days, however, the gentler bird plucked 

 up courage, vigorously resisted, conquered, and 

 played the tyrant in his turn, interdicting his 

 former oppressor and fellow captive from sipping 

 at the sweetened cup. Twenty times in succes- 

 sion would the thirsty bird sweep down from his 

 perch to the glass ; but no sooner was he poised 

 before it than the other would dart down with 

 inconceivable rapidity, and wheeling so as to 

 come up beneath him, drive him away from his 

 repast. An approach to the cup was the signal 

 for an instant assault ; but he might fly about 

 as he pleased elsewhere without molestation. 

 All this time the victor, once the vanquished, 

 would visit the cup, and take long and frequent 

 draughts, no doubt to the mortification of his 

 rival. With his recovered boldness he regained 

 voice, and both would screep pertinaciously and 

 shrilly, almost without intermission. When they 

 were accustomed to the room, they indulged in 

 the exuberance of vivacity, manifested by their 

 upright posture, their quick turns, and the flash- 

 ing of their lovely breasts from darkness into 

 sudden lustrous light, like rich gems, by their 

 dartings hither and thither, and their most grace- 

 ful evolutions in the air. So rapid were these, 

 that the eye was frequently baffled in attempting 

 to follow their motions. " Suddenly," says Mr. 



