256 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



a very rapid twitter much like that of the Chim- 

 ney Swift, but fainter. This tiny creature 

 always excites my intense admiration. Think 

 for a moment of the great distance he covers 

 twice a year between this forest home and his 

 winter abode in the tropics. The explanation is 

 beyond man's knowledge. Little or nothing is 

 known about his travels, except that he is seen 

 in his winter home, then appears amid the June 

 flowers of the north, even in Canada. Of this 

 large exclusively American family the Ruby- 

 throat is the only species that comes to us in east- 

 em North America. 



Once while watching an Olive-sided Fly- 

 catcher perched on a stub, I saw a Humming 

 Bird dart at him full tilt, striking him in the 

 back of the head. Like a flash the Flycatcher 

 turned and, snapping at the midget, caught him 

 by a wing and held him for an instant, when he 

 pulled away with a rattling twitter and sought 

 a perch near me. There he sat for a time, 

 smoothing out his rumpled feathers, occasionally 

 looking across at the Flycatcher with what 

 seemed to be sort of a got-more-than-I-bar- 

 gained-for air. I am somewhat puzzled as to 

 their food supply here, for flowers are not plenti- 

 ful. I believe they, too, have taken up fly- 

 catching. 



Although today is the last of June, the Cherry 

 Birds are still in flocks, and they spend much 

 time among the old stubs. They are graceful 

 flycatchers, not so rapid in movement as are 

 many birds, but with a precision and ease that 

 is quite pleasing to behold. They never seem to 



