THE GOLDHAMMER 55 



and moist as if it were bathed in dew, bewitching and ir- 

 resistible ; its shght black mustachio which gave such a 

 piquant expression to its epicurian face. I told my 

 companion that these birds come to us in the season 

 when red and white heart-cherries take colour, and that 

 they build their nest in the place where the highest 

 boughs branch off. They line their nests delicately with 

 soft grass and spider-webs, they suspend them like a 

 hammock between two boughs by some supple but firm 

 ligatures which swing the nest to and fro at the slightest 

 breeze, thus adding a yet more voluptuous pleasure to the 

 comfort of their aerial dwelling. 



« Cherry-juice predisposes to tenderness » I continued, 

 « and when the goldhammer has got drunk on wild 

 cherries and on heart-cherries, he makes love to his 

 sweetheart in his softly swinging nest. » 



My pretty companion laughed at this remark and 

 said that she should very much like to see a goldham- 

 mer. 



I replied that it is not an easy matter, for the 

 greedy bird has a very distrustful disposition and is 

 rather unapproachable. I told her however that we might 

 try. 



We walked very stealthily hand in hand over the 

 thick grass, taking great precaution not to startle the bird 

 in the cherry-tree, and we drew near the large tree from 

 which the melodious, flute -like notes issued. \\'e had 



