SOXGLESS BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 241 



may be seen buzzing about among the petals, with a sound 

 like that of huge bees. In power of flight the Hummer 

 surpasses all other birds. The little body, divested of its 

 feathers, is no larger than the end of one's finger, but the 

 breast muscles which move the wings are enormous in pro- 

 portion to the size of the bird. They form a large part of the 

 entire trunk, and their power is such that they can vibrate 

 the inch-long feathers of those little wings with such rapidity 

 that the human eye can scarcely follow the bird when it is 

 moved to rapid flight by fear or passion. 



The Rubv-throat is exceedingly pugnacious in the nesting 

 season. The males fight with one another, and, secure in 

 their unequalled powers of flight, they attack other and larger 

 birds. "When the Hummingbird says " Go ! " other birds stand 

 not upon the order of their going, but go at once ; while the 

 little warrior sometimes accelerates their flight, for his sharp 

 beak is a weapon not to be despised. Even the Kingbird 

 goes when the warlike Hummer comes ; the "English" Spar- 

 row flees in terror ; only the Woodpeckers stand their ground. 

 When a person approaches the nest, the sharp squeaking or 

 chirping of the angry Hummer is sometimes followed by the 

 bird itself, for it has been known to dart at its human visitors. 

 It seems to have an aversion for the diurnal sphinx moths, or 

 ''Hummingbird moths," as they are called, and frequently 

 drives them away from its favorite flowers. Audubon says it 

 is sometimes chased by " bumble " bees, but easily avoids them. 

 Miss Florence Merriam, quoting Mrs. Bagg, described a fierce 

 battle between Hummers and these large bees, in which the 

 combatants on both sides fought until exhausted, tearing to 

 pieces, in the mean time, the flowers among which they fought. 

 The bee, with its poisoned lance, must be a dangerous antag- 

 onist for so small a bird. 



The Hummingbird's nest, when newly built, with its two 



Later, Mr. Bailey found that the Theronias which he watched invariably stung 

 pupae that were dead, and contained parasitic pupre. Mr. F. H. Mosher has since 

 made observations which confirm those of Mr. Bailey. This may either indicate 

 that some one is in error, or it may be considered good ground for the hypothesis 

 that this Theronia may be at one time or place a primary parasite, and at another 

 a secondary parasite. If this is possible, it further complicates the relations be- 

 tween the Kingbird and the gipsy moth. 



