MY WOODLAND INTIMATES 



quietly watching from this inviting rustic seat, 

 a dainty little humming-bird flew by and alighted 

 on the brier-bush just opposite; and I had the 

 satisfaction of seeing the little jewel make her 

 toilet. It was the daintiest, most fairy-like per- 

 formance imaginable. First she darted out a 

 long, bristle-like tongue, and then she proceeded 

 to preen the exquisite plumage. Sometimes, with 

 the long beak, separating the tiny breast-feath- 

 ers, again smoothing and putting them in place 

 as the bristle-like tongue darted in and out among 

 them. Suddenly she darted off, and gave chase 

 to a tiny insect, which she captured; then re- 

 turned to her post and resumed her toilet-mak- 

 ing. I watched her until she flew away and was 

 lost to sight among the trees, and I can assure 

 you that on my return to the house it was with 

 no small sense of exultation that I reported my 

 good fortune in having seen a humming-bird in 

 her dressing-room. 



One other little vision I must mention ; such a 

 simple thing that you will perhaps wonder why I 

 place it among the rare sights of this nook. You 

 see a cluster of violets over at yonder pine-tree's 

 base? As I sat here yesterday a wood-thrush 

 halted just at the point where a bunch of the 

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