Ch. VIII.] XOTES OF HUMMING-BIRDS. 139 



head is the only part seen. Sometimes the green-throat 

 would hold its ground, and then it was comical to see 

 them hovering over the water, jerking round from side 

 to side, eyeing each other suspiciously, the one determin- 

 ing to dip, but apparently afraid to do so, for fear the 

 other would take a mean advantage, and do it some 

 mischief whilst under water ; though what harm was 

 possible I could not see, as there were no clothes to steal. 

 I have seen timid bathers acting just like the birds, 

 though from a different cause, bobbing down towards the 

 water, but afraid to dip overhead ; and the idea of comi- 

 cality arose, as it does in most of the ludicrous actions of 

 animals, from their resemblance to those of mankind. 

 The dispute would generally end by the green-throat 

 giving way, and leaving the pugnacious little white-cap 

 in possession of the pool. 



Besides the humming-birds I have mentioned, there 

 were four or five other small ones that we used to call 

 squeakers, as it is their habit for a great part of the day 

 to sit quietly on branches and every now and then to 

 chirp out one or two shrill notes. At first I thought 

 these sounds proceeded from insects, as they resemble 

 those of crickets ; but they are not so continuous. After 

 a while I got to know them, and could distinguish the 

 notes of the different species. It was not until then I 

 found out how full the woods are of humming-birds, for 

 they are most difficult to see when perched amongst the 

 branches, and when flying they frequent the tops of 

 trees in flower, where they are indistinguishable. I 

 have sometimes heard the different chirps of more than 

 a dozen individuals, although unable to get a glimpse 

 of one of them, as they are mere brown specks on the 



