40 THE HUMMING-BIRD OF XOOTKA SOUND. 



the nest on the forked branch of a bramble. 

 The mother bird was sitting on her eggs. 

 She flew out, and hovered near him while 

 he examined the nest. But when he Avent 

 away, she took her place again, and con- 

 tinued to sit on her eggs as before. The 

 nest was as tiny and light as possible. It 

 was made of lichen and moss, and a few 

 feathers woven to^^ether with the slender 

 rootlets of plants, and Avas lined with 

 thistle-down. 



The plumage of the bird is soft and 

 beautifully blended, and glossed like vel- 

 vet. The upper parts are a rich orange, 

 and the head a bronzed green and purple. 

 The feathers of the throat and the sides of 

 the neck are a magnificent fiery red, with 

 a tint of yellow or green, according to the 

 light in which you see them. On the 

 lower part of the neck is a band of reddish- 

 white. 



