Hunt, on Rubythroats. 65 



chance to meet it is nearly always a case of "now yon see me ; 

 now you don't" — and Hummers leave no trail. 



In going over my note-books I can find but four instances 

 where I have had this bird under anything like satisfactory 

 observation and then what they taught me was indeed next to 

 nothing. 



I offer these scanty notes, not that they contain any real 

 value but in hopes that they may call forth the experiences of 

 some other student who has been more fortunate in the study 

 of Rubythroat ways. 



It was a hot August day and I was trudging along the 

 dusty road wdien a Rubythroat darted across in front of me 

 and hovered above a clump of blossoming Jewel weed 

 {Impatiens fiilz'a). I am inclined to believe that among the 

 wild varieties this plant is a favorite with the hummer, for I 

 have frequently noted them about it. I watched this bird for 

 fifteen minutes or more and then it left for parts unknown. 

 It was a female or young of the year. It would go from 

 flower to flower for several minutes and then would perch up- 

 on a branch of the Jewel weed where it would stretch out a 

 wing and run its bill down over and under it, seemingly 

 smoothing out the feathers. 



Again I was following a wood path one June day when I 

 was surprised to see two Hummers hovering above the path 

 directly in front of me. I halted and they darted all about 

 me, sometimes almost into my face. It ma}- Ije that they had 

 a nest close by, but if so I was unable to locate its wdiere- 

 abouts. But why would both birds be guarding the nest? Is 

 it not left entirelv to the female? 



One disagreeable October day — the fifth of the month — 

 with a cold driving rain I had taken up my station in the 

 woods beside a dogwood tree to watch the birds that came to 

 feed upon the crimson berries. These all proved to be Robins 

 and I had about decided to move on when a Crested Fly- 

 catcher alighted in the tree and began to feast upon the 

 plentiful fruit. Whether the berries were not to his liking or 

 his appetite easily satisfied I know 'not, but after eating a 

 few he darted up into a chestnut tree that stood near by. j\Iy 



