110 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



been taught to consider it as ungenteel to look surprised or 

 startled at anything, or to exhibit more than a very cool 

 sort of curiosity. "We were greatly amused at these aristo- 

 cratic airs, and we were ourselves very curious to know what 

 might chance to be the titles of our noble friends in their 

 own principality of air. Much as they made of themselves, 

 I thought our ruby -throat received them with a certain degree 

 of hauteur, which was responded to with the most supercil- 

 ious indifference at all consistent with perfect good breeding. 

 A few days, however, sufficed to break down the icy crust 

 of formality, and they began to appear most guardedly aware 

 of each other's existence. In a few weeks we hung the cage 

 out with open doors again finding that all the birds were 

 beginning to mope and look as if they were going to die, 

 as had been the case with the ruby -breast several times be- 

 fore. He had always been relieved by letting him out ; 

 but, as he instantly disappeared, we could not discover what 

 the antidote he sought might be. 



When we opened the cage this time, it was a bright summer 

 morning just after sunrise. "What was our surprise to see the 

 ruby-throat, instead of darting away as usual, remain with the 

 young ones, which had immediately sought sprays, as if feel- 

 ing a little uncertain what to do with themselves. Scarlet flew 

 round and round them ; then he would dart off to a little dis- 

 tance in the garden and suspend himself on the wing for an in- 

 stant, before what I at first could not perceive to be any- 

 thing more than two bare twigs then he would return and 

 fly around them again, as if to show them how easy it was. 



The little bold fellows did not require long persuasion, 

 but were soon launched on air again, and in a moment or 

 so were using their wings for all we could see with about 

 as much confidence and ease as Mr. Euby-throat. They too 

 commenced the same manoeuvres among the shrubbery, and 

 as there were no flowers there, we were sadly puzzled to 

 think what it was they were dipping at so eagerly, to the 

 utter neglect of the many flowers, not one of which they ap- 



