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. Ruby -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- 
