THE HUMMING-BIRD OF NOOTKA SOUND. 39 



speaking. It is called the Ruff-necked 

 Humming-Bird, or the '' Humming-Bird 

 of Nootka Sound." - 



In one of his excursions on the island, 

 he came upon a number of brilliant birds, 

 glowing with the rich colours of their 

 tribe, and flashing from flower to flower, 

 or poising over them with the habit pecu- 

 liar to their race. 



As he approached a bush, out darted a 

 radiant creature, like a flame of fire, and 

 passed close by him, as though it would 

 attack his face, returning again and again 

 to the charge, and whirling about in the 

 utmost fury. 



This w^as the male bird, on the watch to 

 drive away any intruder from the nest. 

 The angry, hissing noise it made, was like 

 that of a ball as it whizzes through the 

 air. 



A few days after. Captain Cook foimd 



