174 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



longer, he will go through the same performance, 

 and you may catch sight of his lady-love sitting 

 demurely on a bough. It was for her he was show- 

 ing off so beautifully. She has no sparkling gems, 

 or scales on her head and throat, like her mate. 

 Just dull green she is, above, with whitish gray 

 beneath, but with the very same slender black 

 beak and feet and clear black eye. She is accus- 

 tomed to the antics of her lover, and pays little heed 

 to him. You will see her take a nap while he is 

 gone into the sky to turn somersaults on the down 

 trip. 



These little birds, not more than three inches 

 and a half in length, are among our best and 

 dearest. They are fearless, especially if we avoid 

 sudden movements, and will not fly even though 

 we touch the twig on which they are sitting. 

 One may take a handful of flowers, nasturtiums 

 or verbenas, and walk slowly about the grounds 

 or sit quietly down, and the hummers will come 

 and sip the nectar, fanning one's face with their 

 gauzy wings. 



At nesting-time the male is nowhere to be seen. 

 He has gone to the foothills, or somewhere else, 

 to study botany among the wild flowers. The 

 little mother bird does not care, and she goes on 

 alone with the family affairs. The nests are fre- 



