182 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
then represented all the glowing fire of the ruby and 
surpassed in lustre the diadem of monarchs.’ 
“ It is marvellous to see anything so diminutive 
with such fighting propensities as these little crea- 
tures display ; and whether among themselves, or 
with enemies ten and twenty times their size, their 
voice is still for war. They have been known to 
attack and tease the king-bird, and even to put the 
eagle himself to flight by pecking at his head, and 
after this descend to a duel with a humble-bee, that 
was also vanquished. 
“ It is not so difficult to capture humming-birds as 
it is to keep them after they are captured. — There 
really was no personal allusion intended, Malcolm,” 
continued Miss Harson, smiling at her pupil’s comi- 
cal expression ; “ I was merely recalling the experi- 
ence of those who have tried to keep them perma- 
nently. They are such delicate little creatures that 
they cannot bear confinement ; and I am sure you 
would not have liked such an end as this for your 
little captive: ‘At my first attempt I transferred 
such as I succeeded in bringing alive to cages im- 
mediately on their arrival at the house ; but though 
they did not beat themselves, they soon sank under 
the confinement. Suddenly they would fall to the 
floor of the cage, and lie motionless with closed eyes ; 
if taken into the hand, they would perhaps seem to 
