THE HUMMING-BIED OF NOOTKA SOUND. 41 



On a clear day, the bird may be seen 

 rising high in the air, and then descending, 

 to mount aofain. While it descends, it 

 utters a curious note, which resembles the 

 noise made by the branches of a tree as 

 they rub together in a high wind. 



This singular note would hardly be sup- 

 posed to proceed from a bird, still less 

 from the tiny creature that produces it. 

 If the weather is dull or cloudy, the 

 Humming-Bird is silent. 



The mother bird wears a different cos- 

 tume to that of her mate. She is clad in 

 golden-green ; and instead of the orange 

 throat, she has spots of a glowing ruby. 



In this remote and inhospitable spot, 

 where we should least expect to find them, 

 do we thus come upon the beautiful birds ! 



