59 



Notes on the Humming Bird. 



W. B. VanGorder. 



From inforination gathered through various sources the hummiug bird 

 is not often seen in Indiana after tlie middle of September of each year, 

 most of them leaving much earlier than tliis, while a few tarry longer, even 

 to the last of September. September 20 is the latest date of their appear- 

 ance in the State as given by Mr. Butler in liis report of the birds of 

 Indiana. On September 8 I noticed one about the flowers in my garden; 

 also one on September 9. On September 15 I noticed one again. This 

 attracted my attention, as I liad marked September 9 for the last date for 

 1907. I decided now to ^^■atch more closely the flowers in my garden 

 and in my neighbor's garden adjoining. 



This was the result of my obser\'atious : The daily visits of these 

 birds being as follows : September 15, three visits ; September 16, two 

 visits; September 17, three visits; September 18, three visits; September 

 19, two visits ; September 20, two visits ; September 21, none ; Septeml.er 

 22, two visits; September 23, one visit at 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon; 

 September 24, one visit at fifteen minutes past twelve, one at twenty min- 

 utes of five o'clock and one at 5 :30 o'clock ; September 25, one at seven 

 o'clock in the morning ; September 26. one visit at seven o'clock 

 in the morning and one at twenty minutes past twelve ; September 

 27, one visit at 6 :30 in the morning : September 28, one visit at eight o'clock 

 and one at nine o'clock ; September 20, one visit at fifteen minutes of 

 eight, one visit five minutes past nine, one at five minutes past ten, one at 

 ten thirty, one at eleven forty, one at ten minutes of four, one at four 

 thirty and one at five o'clock ; September 30, one visit at twenty-five min- 

 utes past twelve; October 1, oiie ^isit at twelve o'clock and (me at four 

 thirty; October 2, one at three thirty; October 3. one at twelve twenty; 

 October 4, one at five minutes of twelve and one at twenty minutes past 

 twelve; October 5, I \^'atched two hours before I saw a humming bird at 

 ten thirty, another visit at ten fifty and at five fifteen, one hovering about 

 a few nasturtiums ; Octol>er 6. one visit at one o'clock, one at one-thirty 

 and one at five o'clock. October 7 it rained all day and none was seen. 



