HUMMIN(iBIRI>. 39 



faction or difuippointmeut wo could not determine. After tenting 

 several flowors the bird flow to others that grew near hy, and then 

 back again to the niaidun'H boii((uot, repeating thoao excurHions 



, Reveral tiinoH. T did not wonder that the huiuiuingbird had no fear 

 of the maiden, for with hor lioautiful face and Hweot Huiilo fihe 

 looked the bright blosHoiu that sho wuh, but that ho bore undiHtiirbod 

 the prosonco of ho many persona Hpoko well for Iuh courage, or the 

 young lady's influence. The ruby-throat probably knew what he 

 was about, for those birds have keen eyes and a good sense of the 

 proprieties. If you think them iiidiflbrent, butterflj' nonentities, 



. just try to steal upon a nosb some day. You will find that che 

 parents permit of no intrusion, but are kcoidy alert, and fiercely 

 attack all comers, bo the intruder man, snake, sparrow, or sphinx 

 moth. The hummingbirds have a doa<lly hatred of those moths, 

 and often kill them by a thrust of the closed bill. I once witnessed 



" a fight between a snake and three of these tiny birds, and so rapid 

 were their moveaents and so fierce and incessant their assaults, that 

 the snake was forced to retreat. 



The nests these birds construct is a wonderful and beautiful 

 specimen of avian architecture. It is made of plant down and silk 

 from divers seed-pods and other similar material, which is firmly 

 felted and moulded into a tiny bowl of graceful form. After 

 this bowl has been securely fastened to the branch upon which it 

 rests — often an apple tree bough — the male bird frescoes the outside 

 with scraps of gray lichen torn from the tree, and thus makes the 

 nest inconspicuous by wearing a close resemblance to a knot. The 

 inside of the nest is made soft by the ends of the felted threads, 

 and on this dainty cushion the female lays her dainty eggs, two 

 minute vessels of chalky white, though wearing a roseate tint when 

 fresh. After some ten or twelve days of weary waiting the chicks 

 appear, and frail, helpless chicks they are, so frail that many of 

 them are killed by cold and rain in some seasons. Nuttall mentions 



'. one such memorable year. But the parents care for them with 

 tenderness and zeal, and the young usually thrive and grow rapidly. 

 They are fed by regurgitation, the parents putting their bills far 

 down the youngsters' throats, and ejecting partially digested food. 

 I have credited both parents with caring for the young, but Mr. 

 Bradford Torrey has brought a serious charge against the male, and 



