A Hummingbird Story 



By WILBUR F. SMITH. South Norwalk, Conn. 

 With Photographs by the Author 



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I EMALE HUMMINGBIRD 

 BROODING 



^OUR of the Ruby-throated Humming- 

 birds' nests that I have found were 

 built on branches hanging out over the 

 water of a stream or pond. Three nests were 

 on red or silver maple trees on lawns, and four 

 more in some orchard or wood. I had begun 

 to believe that I knew something of the sort 

 of a place a Hummingbird would choose for a 

 nest, or that lichens added concealment by 

 making the nest look like a 'mossy knot,' as 

 we have all heard, but my opinions were 

 rudely upset the past summer by a pair of 

 Hummers who emphasized anew that it is 

 unwise to make a positive statement of what 

 any bird will or will not do. 



A lady who had been reading in a ham- 

 mock swung from the porch roof noticed a 

 Hummingbird dart in and out of the veranda; 

 as she left the hammock something dropped 

 from the sliding block regulating its height and 

 she was surprised and grieved to find it a partly built Hummingbird's nest. It 

 was small wonder that the birds were concerned, while to have a pair of these 

 dainty birds choose one's veranda for a home and then unintentionally to tear 

 the nest from its position was indeed a tragedy. 



The nest was gently replaced and pinned in position, the cushions removed 

 from the hammock, that the birds might have the whole porch and welcome 

 if they would only return and continue nesting. As though nothing had hap- 

 pened they continued building the nest higher, fastened it to the block with 

 spider threads and the pin was removed. 



On June 2, or four days later, the first egg was laid, and, after an interval 

 of a day, the second egg was laid. The nest was still so shallow it seemed as 

 though the eggs would roll out as the hammock swung in the breeze. The 

 young hatched on June 15, after eleven days' incubation, during which time 

 the nest was built higher. The male had disappeared sometime before this 

 and was not seen again, leaving all the work of the nest and the caring for the 

 young to his mate. 



On July 2, the young were tilling the nest to overflowing, and as all the 

 authorities I could consult said the young left the nest in from 'ten days' to 

 'about three weeks,' they might leave any day. Whether or no this was an 



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