34 THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMIXG-BIRD. 



The Humming-Bird is very brave. It 

 will attack a bird double its own size ; 

 even the tyrant Fly-catcher is often driven 

 away, and pursued for a short distance. 



Now and then the great humble-bee 

 comes droning by, and makes an attack 

 on the radiant creature in its j)ath. But 

 there is little danger from such a clumsy 

 foe. The Humming-Bird darts away, 

 and is out of sight in a moment. 



Its own flight is like that of the bee, 

 only far more rapid. It darts in at the 

 open window of a room, attracted by the 

 scent of some fragrant bouquet. It gives 

 the flowers a passing notice, and is gone 

 ere you can well behold it. 



When the season grows late, and the 

 eveninofs are cool, the Hummino^-Bird can 

 find many places of refuge. 



It enters the hothouse or conservatory, 

 and uses it for a sleeping-room ; going 



