104 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIKDS. 



captive, which, to my inexpressible delight, proved to be 

 one of the ruby -throated species the most splendid and di- 

 minutive that comes north of Florida. It immediately sug- 

 gested itself to me that a mixture of two parts refined loaf- 

 sugar, with one of fine honey, in ten of water, would make 

 about the nearest approach to the nectar of flowers. "While 

 my sister ran to prepare it, I gradually opened my hand to 

 look at my prisoner, and saw to my no little amusement as 

 well as surprise, that it was actually " playing possom" 

 feigning to be dead most skilfully 1 It lay on my open palm 

 motionless for some minutes, during which I watched it in 

 breathless curiosity. I saw it gradually open its bright little 

 eyes to peep whether the way was clear, and then close them 

 slowly as it caught my eye upon it; but, when the manufac- 

 tured nectar came, and a drop was touched gently to the 

 point of its bill, it come to life very suddenly, and, in a mo- 

 ment, was on its legs, drinking with eager gusto of the re- 

 freshing draught from a silver tea-spoon. When sated it re- 

 fused to take more, and sat perched with the coolest self- 

 composure on my finger, and plumed itself quite as artistic- 

 ally as if on its favorite spray. I was enchanted with the 

 bold, innocent confidence with which it turned up its keen, 

 black eye to survey us, as much as to say, " Well, good folk 

 who are you ?" 



Thus, in less than an hour, this apparently tameless rider 

 of the winds, was perched, pleasantly chirping upon my 

 finger, and received its food with edifying eagerness from 

 my sister's hand. It seemed completely domesticated from 

 the moment that a taste of its natural food reassured it, and 

 left no room to doubt our being friends. By the next day, 

 it would come from any part of either room alight Upon the 

 side of a white China cup, containing the mixture, and drink 

 eagerly with its long bill thrust into the very base, after the 

 manner of the pigeons. It would alight on our fingers, and 

 seem to talk with us, endearingly, in its soft chirps. Indeed, 

 I never saw any creature so thoroughly tamed in so short a 



