THE HUMMING-BIRD AND THE CHIMNEY-SWIFT. 177 



THE HUMMING-BIRD. 



Only one species the RUBYTHROAT of the beautiful family 

 of humming-birds (Trochilidce) occurs in the Northern States. 

 This feathered sprite is rather common and may often be seen 

 hovering before flowers, from which it extracts nectar and 

 minute insects and spiders. Considerable discussion has 

 taken place as to whether its food consisted mainly of insects 

 or nectar : the relative proportion of the two elements prob- 

 ably varies with the season and locality. When the sap of 

 trees is obtainable, the birds appear to prefer it to any other 

 food. They regularly visit trees perforated by yellow-bellied 

 sapsuckers : Mr. Frank Bolles says that in the White Moun- 

 tains of New Hampshire, " the humming-birds, at ' orchards' 

 where they are not molested by the woodpeckers, drink scores 

 of times in the course of the long summer day. When not 

 drinking they are usually perched on ' twigs a few yards from 

 the holes, keeping their nervous heads wagging from side to 

 side while watching for intruders. In a few instances I have 

 seen humming-birds perch upon the bark below the holes, in 

 order to drink long without being forced to keep their wings 

 moving while enjoying the sweet sap." 1 The young are fed 

 chiefly upon minute insects, such as gnats, ants, and small 

 bees. According to Mr. William Brewster's observations, the 

 young are fed by regurgitation. 



THE CHIMNEY-SWIFT. 



The swifts (Cypselidce) are represented in eastern North 

 America by but one species, the abundant CHIMNEY-SWIFT, or 

 CHIMNEY-SWALLOW, a bird of marvellous powers of flight, 

 with small and slender body, long, pointed wings, and not a 

 grain of superfluous flesh : an aerial thoroughbred, built for 

 cleaving the air in chase of the insect quarry that forms its 



1 Science, vol. xx. p. 318. 

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