THE HUMMING BIRDS. 275 



at tbo next descent. This is a common maneuver with the species. The whistle 

 made during the descent was quite low and the buzzing sound made as he passed the 

 other bird, a young T. costce,, was coarser than I had heretofore thought. It also lacked 

 all whistling character. I also noticed another swooping back and forth, but heard 

 no whistle or other vocal sound. 



Mr. Heushaw* also is inclined to think that this sound, in the Broad- 

 tailed Hummer (Selasphorus platycercus), at least, is u analogous to the 

 love-notes of other birds." Says he: 



During the mating, and perhaps also through the entire breeding season, the flight 

 of the male is always accompanied by a curious, loud, metallic, rattling noise, which 

 he is enabled to produce in some way by means of the attenuation of the outer prima- 

 ries. This is, I think, intentionally made, and is analogous to the love notes of other 

 birds. Though I saw many of these birds in the fall, it was only very rarely that this 

 whistling noise was heard, and then with greatly diminished force. 



DISPOSITION. 



In their disposition Humming Birds are not only very tame but 

 highly curious or inquisitive, and exhibit a special propensity to closely 

 inspect a human intruder to their domains. One of these little feath- 

 ered fairies will at such times approach like a flash and poise directly 

 before one's face, its wings vibrating so rapidly as to appear as a mere 

 haze on each side of its body, which itself remains so stationary that 

 the inquiring expression of its bright black eyes and the outline of 

 nearly every feather of its compact little figure can be seen j then it 

 shifts rapidly to one side, then to the other, and approaches so near as 

 to be easily within reach of the hand ; but the slightest demonstration 

 causes it to vanish so swiftly that the eye can scarcely trace the line 

 of its flight. 



The charming confidence in the human species shown by Humming 

 Birds when they are treated considerately is well illustrated by an 

 anecdote related by Lady Emeline Stuart Wortley in her " Travels." 

 A pair of the minute Vervain Hummer (Mellisuga minima) had built 

 their nest close to one of the walks of the garden of the place where she 

 was staying. 



The branch, indeed, of the beautiful shrub in which this fairy nest was suspended 

 almost intruded into the walk; and every time we sauntered by there was much 

 danger of sweeping against this projecting branch with its precious charge and doing 

 it some injury, as very little would have demolished the exquisite fabric. In process 

 of time two lovely pea-like eggs had appeared ; and while we were there we had 

 the great pleasure of seeing the minute living gems themselves appear, looking like 

 two very small bees. The mother bird allowed us to look closely at her in the nest 

 and inspect her little nurslings, when she was flying about near, without appearing 

 in the least degree disconcerted or alarmed. I never saw so tame or so bold a pet. 

 But she did not allow the same liberties to be taken by everybody unchecked. One 



day, as Sir C was walking in the pretty path beside which the fragile nest was 



delicately suspended amid sheltering leaves, he paused in order to look at the lillipu- 

 tian inhabitants. While thus engaged he felt suddenly a sharp light rapping on the 

 crown of his hat, which considerably surprised him. He looked roiiud to ascertain 



* Report on Ornithological Specimens, Wheeler's Expedition, p. 88. 



