54 LOCAL DISTKIBUTlOtf. 



assure myself whether they migrate during the 

 day or by night, but am inclined to think the 

 latter the case, as they seem to be busily feeding 

 at all times of the day, which would not be the 

 case had they long flights to perform at that 

 period. They pass through the air in long un- 

 dulations, raising themselves for some distance 

 at an angle of about 40 degrees, then falling in 

 a curve ; but the smallness of their size precludes 

 the possibility of following them with the eye 

 farther than fifty or sixty yards without great 

 difficulty, even with a good glass. A person 

 standing in a garden by the side of a common 

 Althaea in bloom, will be as surprised to hear the 

 humming of their wings and then see the birds 

 themselves within a few feet of him, as he will be 

 astonished at the rapidity with which the little 

 creatures rise into the air, and are out of sight 

 and hearing the next moment." He observes, 

 that they settle only on twigs or branches, where 

 they may be seen engaged in dressing their 

 plumage, but they can quit their perch without 

 the least difficulty in an instant. They " appear 

 to be possessed of superior powers of vision, 

 making directly towards a martin or blue-bird, 

 when fifty or sixty yards from them, reaching it 

 before it is aware of their approach. No bird 

 seems to resist their attacks, but they are some- 

 times chased by the larger kinds of humble bees, 

 of which they seldom take the least notice, as 



