338 RED-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD. 



even of this diminutive bird, in defence of its 

 young. " When they see a man dime the tree 

 where they have their nests, they flee at his face, 

 and strike him in the eyes, commyng, goying, and 

 returning, with such szvyftness, that no man would 

 lyghtly beleeve it that hath not seen it." Their 

 nests are found with great difficulty, being built 

 in the branch of a tree, amidst the thick foliage. 

 It is of an elegance suitable to the architects; 

 formed on the outside with moss, and in the inside 

 lined with down or gossamer collected from the 

 great Mullein or Verbascum Thapsus ; but it is 

 also sometimes made of flax, hemp, hair, and 

 other soft materials. The female is said to be the 

 builder; the male supplying her with materials: 

 each assists in the labour of incubation, which 

 continues during twelve days: they lay only two 

 eggs, white, and as small as pease : the first is 

 very singular, and contrary to the general rule of 

 Nature, which makes, in all other instances, the 

 smallest and most defenceless birds the most pro- 

 lific. The reasons of the exception in this case 

 are double: the smallness of their bodies causes 

 them commonly to escape the eyes of birds of 

 prey, or if seen, their rapid flight eludes the pur- 

 suit; so that the species is preserved as fully as if 

 they had been the most numerous breeders." 



This species is, according to the observations 

 of Monsr. Viellot, of a tender and delicate nature, 

 and cannot support the want of its accustomed 

 food for more than twelve or fourteen hours at 

 farthest. In autumn it frequently perishes, in 



