78 HUMMING-BIRD. 



moisture. Within this are thick matted layers of the fine wings 

 of certain flying seeds, closely laid together; and, lastly, the 

 downy substance from the great mullein, and from the stalks of 

 the common fern, lines the whole. The base of the nest is con- 

 tinued round the stem of the branch, to which it closely adheres; 

 and, when viewed from below, appears a mere mossy knot or 

 accidental protuberance. The eggs are two, pure white, and of 

 equal thickness at both ends. The nest and eggs in the plate 

 were copied with great precision, and by actual measurement, 

 from one just taken in from the woods. On a person's approach- 

 ing their nest, the little proprietors dart around with a humming 

 sound, passing frequently within a few inches of one's head; 

 and should the young be newly hatched, the female will resume 

 her place on the nest even while you stand within a yard or two 

 of the spot. The precise period of incubation I am unable to 

 give; but the young are in the habit, a short time before they 

 leave the nest, of thrusting their bills into the mouths of their 

 parents, and sucking what they have brought them. I never 

 could perceive that they carried them any animal food; though, 

 from circumstances that will presently be mentioned, I think it 

 highly probable they do. As I have found their nests with eggs 

 so late as the twelfth of July, I do not doubt but that they fre- 

 quently, and perhaps usually, raise two brood in the same season. 

 The humming-bird is extremely fond of tubular flowers, and 

 I have often stopt, with pleasure, to observe his manoeuvres 

 among the blossoms of the trumpet flower. When arrived be- 

 fore a thicket of these that are full blown, he poises, or suspends 

 himself on wing, for the space of two or three seconds, so steadily, 

 that his wings become invisible, or only like a mist; and you 

 can plainly distinguish the pupil of his eye looking round with 

 great quickness and circumspection; the glossy golden green of 

 his back, and the fire of his throat, dazzling in the sun, form al- 

 together a most interesting appearance. The position into which 

 his body is usually thrown while in the act of thrusting his slen- 

 der tubular tongue into the flower, to extract its sweets, is ex- 

 hibited in the figure on the plate. When he alights, which is 



