62 



MY HUMMING BIRDS. 



■witness the sufferings of the bereaved pair, whom we had thus 

 ruthlessly robbed of home and young, 



The first thing on reaching the house with our captives, was to 

 try our nectar, of the home-made manufacture, upon the young 

 strangers, who instantly paid us the compliment of recognising its 

 merits in a hearty draught, which seemed to set them perfectly at 

 ease with the world and with themselves. They now left the nest, 

 and perched upon our fingers with the most lovely confidence, and 

 we saw that they were actually full-plumed — though I doubt if they 

 had yet attempted to use their wings abroad. They seemed to take 

 the sudden change in their surroundings with a most consummate 

 people-of-the-world sort of air; just as if they had 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 aristocratic airs, and were our- 

 selves 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 Euby-throat received them with, 

 a certain degree of hauteur, which was responded to with the most 

 supercilious indifference, at all consistent with perfect good breeding. 

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

 mality, 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 

 Euby-breast several times before. 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 Euby-throat, instead 

 of darting away as usual, remain with the young ones, which had 

 immediately sought sprays, as if feeling a little uncertain what to 

 do with themselves. Scarlet flew round and round them; then he 

 would dart off to a little distance in the garden, and suspend him- 

 self on the wing for an instant, before what I at first cculd not 

 perceive to be anything more than two bare twigs ; then he would 

 return and fly around them again, as if to show them how easy 

 it was. 



The bold little 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 soon 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 clipping 

 at so eagerly, to the utter neglect of the many flowers, not one 



