Taverner and Swales^ on Birds of Point Pelee. 137 



ber 15 to 22, 1906, they were scarcer than usual and the ten seen on 

 the 19th were doubtless the last of the main body of migrants, as 

 this is our latest date. 

 97. *Trochilus coluhris. — Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 



Common on all May dates and, in the fall, to September 21, 190G, 

 the latest date in that month that we have been on the Point. The 

 first three days of September in 1906 were notable for the vast num- 

 bers of Hummei's present. In certain low slashings in the open 

 woods were luxuriant growths of Jewel Weed {Impatieirs sp?) 

 standing nearly shoulder high and so dense that to enter it one had 

 to force his way through. It was simply spangled with blossoms, and 

 all about and over it hovered and darted hundreds of Hummingbirds. 

 From some little distance, as we approached such clumps, we were 

 aware of innumerable little twitterings that followed each other so 

 rapidly as to scarce be separable, one from another, and so fine, 

 sharp, and high in pitch that it took a little effort to realize that it 

 was real sound and not imagination or a ringing in the ears. Un- 

 derlying this was a low hum that arose from the vibrations of many 

 little wings. Approaching closer, the pugnacious little mites were all 

 about us, chasing each other over the smooth rounded surface of the 

 jewel weed or darting angrily at us from this side or that, with furi- 

 ous chatterings that made one instinctively cover the eyes, or invol- 

 untarily flinch at the expected impact of their sharp, rapier-like, lit- 

 tle bills. If a Hummingbird were larger and still retained its same 

 aggressive spirit in proportion to its increased size, it would be posi- 

 tively dan'gerous to stray into its haunts. As it is, such concen- 

 trated wrath wrapped up in so small and impotent a body, tempts 

 one to coin a new simile for futile rage and say, "As mad as an an- 

 gry hummingbird" ; and strongly recalls Beethoven's composition. 

 "Wrath at the Loss of a Penny." On remaining perfectly still for a 

 few moments the turmoil resultant upon our intrusion subsided, and 

 the disturbed proprietors of the place went about their business and 

 their pleasure regarding us no more than any other fixture of the 

 landscape or the trees and stumps about them. Some sat preening 

 their feathers on a twig of a bare branch that projected through the 

 green mass, or, on a high spray of the jewel weed itself, passing their 

 wings through their delicate mandibles and scraping off infinitesimal 

 particles of dust. Others busied themselves about the flowers that 

 'blossomed in such profusion, probing every cup to see whether or 

 not some drop of nectar had not been left by previous explorers. 

 Often two would rise over opposite sides of an obstructing mass of 

 vegetation and meet face to face at the top. Then they would dash 

 towards each other, squeaking and bridling with rage, but just be- 

 fore the final collision and when but a foot or so apart, they would 

 both rise in the air vertically, their bodies hanging straight up and 



