112 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 
no more beyond a certain time — about a fortnight — ^upon 
nectar alone, than they can upon air alone, nor do I believe 
that life could be preserved " beyond a few days upon spiders 
alone. There is another rather cnrions observation we made, 
that so long as the white cup was not dry, for so long they 
did not condescend to notice the thousands of flowers by 
which they were surrounded. "We used to starve them a 
little sometimes for fun, and then we would have to hide, 
for they would make such b. row ! if we appeared — flying 
close to our faces, pecking gently at our teeth and eyes, 
lighting on our hair and pecking at it, or on our shoulders 
pulling at it — until, sometimes, it was almost difficult to tell 
whether it was more amusing or annoying. At last they 
would go away with evident reluctance to the garden, and 
tear up about half the flowers they tried, and darting towards 
us the moment we appeared again with the magical white 
cup. Such was the spell it exercised upon them, that when 
any of our friends, who came visiting us, desired to see them 
when they were out and perched among the trees, either of 
us had only to walk into the yard, and holding up the white 
cup above our heads, imitate their own chirp to attract their 
notice, and in an instant one after another would come dip- 
ping down from above, and cluster round the rim. After a 
draught, which was always the first thing, they would sit and 
plume themselves, stopping every now and then to ask one 
of the strangers with their steady eyes, so like black dia- 
monds — 
" Who are you, pray ? What'll you take ?" 
Their movements were so like lightning, that though they 
would let you get your hand near enough for them to peck 
it, yet it was impossible to catch them. They would let us 
do it sometimes, but never a stranger. 
Now comes the, to me, most interesting portion of this 
narrative. 
Our charming little family remained with us on these 
pleasing terms until the middle of September, and then, as 
