HUMMINGBIRDS 



feathers or chasing each other about with an 

 angry buzz or twitter. By the first of April 

 rufous hummers are common everywhere, 

 buzzing about the dooryards, probing the 

 flowers, darting at some winged intruder with 

 an angry squeak or investigating possible 

 nesting sites. 



Its nest is placed in all sorts of situations 

 on vines, bushes and trees but its favorite 

 nesting site seems to be on the swaying 

 slender end of a hemlock or cedar bough at 

 varying heights from the ground. It is a tiny 

 cradle composed of spider web and plant 

 down and other silky vegetable fibers. The 

 outside is covered with small lichens making 

 the nest appear like a small knot on the limb. 

 It is about the size of half an eggshell. The 

 eggs are always two in number and pure 

 white. These when hatched disclose two of 

 the ugliest little birds imaginable, blind, 

 naked and more like insects than birds. They 

 are fed by regurgitation, a frightful looking 

 operation, and leave the nest in from fourteen 

 to twenty days, beautiful full fledged hum- 

 mers, ready to follow their parents back to 

 the tropics. 



By the first of October the hummingbirds 

 are flocking south and they may be found by 

 scores, the males and females and the young 

 4 49 



