MY HOME ON THE HILLTOP. 105 



I made my chimney I burned lime, as well as I 

 could, from the coral and shells on the beach, and 

 this I transported with diflSculty to the hill, dropping 

 much of it by the way. And it was to get a taste of 

 this lime, doubtless, that the humming bird whetted 

 its slender beak on the flat stone. 



I found the nest of this " hummer " attached to 

 the under side of a small palm leaf, daintily con- 

 structed of cobwebs and lichens, and affixed like the 

 nest of a swallow. The leaf bent above and con- 

 cealed it, so I should never have found it had not 

 the bird himself betrayed its whereabouts. This 

 species and the emerald variety are very brave, even 

 to rashness, darting at any intruder, man or beast, 

 with a " whoof , whoof " of the wings that is startling, 

 when heard in the stillness of the deep forest. 



Thus my time was passed in noting the move- 

 ments of my neighbors, in cultivating my grounds, 

 and adding to my store of information regarding the 

 fauna and the economic flora of my island. Almost 

 before I was aware of it three months had flown, and 

 I was as much at home as though I had lived here all 

 my life. 



