212 The Naturalist in La Plata. 
It has frequently been remarked that humming- 
birds are more like insects than birds in disposition. 
Some species, on quitting their perch, perform wide 
bee-like circles about the tree before shooting away 
in a straight line. Their aimless attacks on other 
species approaching or passing near them, even on 
large birds like hawks and pigeons, is a habit they 
have in common with many solitary wood-boring 
bees. They also, like dragon-flies and other insects, 
attack each other when they come together while 
feeding ; and in this case their action strangely 
resembles that of a couple of butterflies, as they 
revolve about each other and rise vertically to a 
great height in the air. Again, like insects, they 
are undisturbed at the presence of man while 
feeding, or even when engaged in building and in- 
cubation ; and like various solitary bees, wasps, &c., 
they frequently come close to a person walking or 
standing, to hover suspended in the air within a 
few inches of his face; and if then struck at they 
often, insect-like, return to circle round his head. 
All other birds, even those which display the least 
versatility, and in districts where man is seldom 
seen, show as much caution as curiosity in his 
presence; they recognize in the upright unfamiliar 
form a living being and a possible enemy. Mr. 
Whiteley, who observed humming-birds in Peru, says 
it is an amusing sight to watch the Lesbia nuna 
attempting to pass to a distant spot in a straight 
line during a high wind, which, acting on the long 
tail feathers, carries it quite away from the point 
aimed at. Insects presenting a large surface to the 
wind are always blown from their course in the 
