4 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD 



reports, only two were favored by the presence 

 of the male, as far as the evidence went. On 

 the other hand, Mr. Torrey himself watched one 

 male who, whether a householder or a bachelor, 

 devoted himself most assiduously to doing no- 

 thing. Hour after hour, day after day, and week 

 after week, he was found perching in the same 

 tree, apparently scarcely allowing himself time for 

 three meals a day. Here certainly are mysteries 

 worth clearing up. Such conduct must not pass 

 unchallenged. Let each field student hie forth 

 with glass and book, and wrest from these un- 

 natural Benedicts full accounts of themselves. 



It is not in its home life alone that the Hum- 

 mingbird is interesting. We can hardly see one 

 without being filled with wonder. While stand- 

 ing in the garden watching the ' burly dozing 

 humblebee ' wandering in ' waving lines ' from 

 flower to flower, who has not been startled by the 

 sudden vision of a whizzing Hummer darting past 

 straight to some favorite blossom ? How do these 

 little flower-lovers work together does the world 

 hold blooms enough for bee and bird, or can the 

 bee glean when the Hummingbird has done ? 

 This much we know : while, as Emerson says, the 

 bee is 4 sipping only what is sweet,' the Hummer 

 is probing for tiny gauzy wings hidden in the 

 sweet. 



And, whatever their own wants, both little crea- 

 tures are at work helping to carry out the mar- 



