18 THE HUMMING-BIRDS OF THE FORESTT. 



hides in its cool retreat until the eveninsf. 

 Then it comes out again, and darts hither 

 and thither in search of its prey. But for 

 its brilliant colours, you might take it for 

 a bird of niofht. 



The nest is built on a twig that over- 

 hangs some lonely creek. It is very much 

 like a piece of tanned leather, and has a 

 kind of ridge or rim round the top. 



This rim is to prevent the eggs from 

 rollinof out. 



The range of the Humming-Birds, like 

 that of the Parrots, is wider than was once 

 imagined. 



The tropical region is their natural 

 home ; and every attempt to rear them in 

 our colder climate has been in vain. 



But they have been known to wander 

 far beyond the limits of the Torrid Zone. 

 They pay flying visits to Canada, and 

 even travel as far as the land of the Seal 



