40 IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 



fell upon the assembly in the trees, which began 

 to scatter, each one departing upon his own 

 business in a moment. But the humming-bird 

 refused to be so easily pacified ; he was bound 

 to see the end of the affair, and he followed me 

 out of the grove, still vigorously speaking his 

 mind about the enemy in fur. I suspected that 

 the little creature had wandered away from the 

 house on the hill above, and I went up to see. 

 The hummer accompanied me every step of the 

 way, sometimes flying over my head, and again 

 alighting for a minute on a branch under which 

 I passed. Not until he saw me deliver pussy 

 into the hands of her own family, and return to 

 my usual seat in the grove, did he release me 

 from surveillance and take his leave. 



The yellow-breasted chat, the long-tailed va- 

 riety belonging to the West, delivers his strange 

 medley of " chacks " and whistles, and rattles 

 and other indescribable cries, in a voice that is 

 loud and distinct, as well as sweet and rich. 

 He is a bird of humor, too, with a mocking 

 spirit not common in his race. One day, while 

 sitting motionless in a hidden nook, trying to 

 spy upon the domestic affairs of this elusive in- 

 dividual, I was startled by the so-called "laugh" 

 of a robin, which was instantly repeated by a 

 chat, unseen, but quite near. The robin, appar- 

 ently surprised or interested, called again, and 



