COURAGE OF THE HUMMING-BIRD. 349 



branch to which it clings, that it seems more like a natural 

 excrescence than the artificial structure of a feathered 

 architect. 



The Euby-Throated Humming-bird, thus called from the 

 feathers of its breast, which glitter as if made of biu-nished 

 metal, and glow with alternate tints of ruby and orange, 

 constructs a nest which even the Indian's eagle glance can 

 hardly discover, so closely does it resemble a knob upon a 

 branch. So fearful too is the female of detection that she does 

 not fly straight to her home, but first shoots up perpendicularly 

 into the air until her tiny body is lost to sight, and then darts 

 down among the branches with such meteor swiftness that the 

 eye cannot follow her movements, and she is quietly seated in 

 lier nest before the spectator knows exactly in which direction 

 she has gone. 



Nothing can exceed the tenderness which the male humming- 

 bird evinces during breeding time for his lovely companion, nor 

 the courage which he displays for her protection. On the 

 approach of an intrusive bird, though ten times bigger than 

 himself, he will not hesitate a moment to attack the disturber 

 of his nest, his bravery adds a tenfold increase to his powers, 

 the rapidity of his movements confounds his enemy, and finally 

 drives him to flight. Proud of his success, the little champion 

 returns to his partner, and flaps triumphantly his tiny wings. 

 But with all his activity and courage, he is not always able to 

 avert disaster from his nest, for an enormous bush spider, 

 covered all over with black hair (^Mygale), too often lurks in 

 the vicinity, watching for the moment when the little birds 

 shall creep out of the shell. With sudden attack it then 

 invades the nest, and sucks their life-blood. Against this 

 enemy neither courage nor despair are of any avail, and if the 

 poor humming-bird endeavours to avenge the slaughter of his 

 young, he only shares their fate. When the dark long-legged 

 monster entwines his brilliant prey, one might almost fancy an 

 angel of light bleeding under the talons of a demon. 



From the chivalrous character of the Humming-birds it is 

 not surprising that the most violent passions agitate their little 

 breasts ; so that in their desperate contests, they will tilt 

 against each other with such fury, as if each meant to transfix 

 his antagonist with his long bill. It may indeed be truly said 



