THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD 



mous in proportion to the size of the bird. They form 

 a large part of the entire trunk, and their power is such 

 that they can vibrate the inch-long feathers of those little 

 wings with such rapidity that the human eye can scarcely 

 follow the bird when it is moved to rapid flight by fear 

 or passion." ^ 



The wings do not seem to be made of feathers, but of 

 gauze, like those of insects. I never really saw the 

 feathers until I held a dead hummingbird in my hand. 

 Its iridescent body seems made of burnished metal. 



It is wonderful that so tiny a creature can wing its way 

 from Central America to the heart of Canada. It seems 

 to know no fear; it is quite able to defend itself with its 

 long sharp bill. Mr. Forbush says: "The males fight 

 with one another, and, secure in their unequalled powers 

 of flight, they attack other and larger birds. When the 

 Hummingbird says 'Go!' other birds stand not upon the 

 order of their going, but go at once; while the little warrior 

 sometimes accelerates their flight, for his sharp beak is a 

 weapon not to be despised. Even the Kingbird goes when 

 the war-like Hummer comes; the English Sparrow flees 

 in terror; only the Woodpeckers stand their ground."^ 



Hummingbirds are not only fearless and pugnacious, 

 but they are very inquisitive. Major Bendire says: "I 

 once occupied quarters that were completely covered with 

 trumpet-vines, and when these were in bloom the place 

 fairly swarmed with Ruby-throats. They were exceed- 

 ingly inquisitive, and often poised themselves before an 

 open window and looked in my rooms, full of curiosity, 

 their bright little eyes sparkling like black beads. I 

 caught several — by simply putting my hand over them, 



1 & 2 "Useful Birds and Their Protection," by E. H. Forbush, p. 241. 



[193] 



