THE LONG-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. IG."] 



Of the Ruby-throat, Audubon speaks in the following terms :^ 



" I have seen these birds in Louisiana as early as the 10th of March. Their ai)pearance 

 in that State varies, however, as much as in any other, it being sometimes a fortnight later, 

 or, although rarely, a few days earlier. In the middle district they seldom arrive before the 

 15th of April, more usually the beginning of May. I have not been able to assure myself 

 whether they migrate during the day or by night, but am inclined to think the latter the case, 

 as they seem to be leisurely feeding at all times of the day, which would not be the case had 

 they long flights to perform at that period. 



"They pass through the air in long undulations, i-aising themselves for some distance at 

 an angle of about forty degrees, then falling in a curve ; but the smaUness of their size pre- 

 cludes the possibility of following them with the eye farther than fifty or sixty yards without 

 great difficulty, even with a good glass. A person standing in a garden by the side of a common 

 Althgea in bloom, will be as surprised to hear the humming of their wings, and then see the 

 birds themselves within a few feet of him, as he will be astonished at the rapidity with which 

 the little creatures rise into the air, and are out of sight and hearing the next moment." 



Trusting in its matchless power of wing, the Ruby-throated Humming-bird cares nothing 

 for eagle, hawk, or owl ; and though only three inches or so in length, thinks nothing of 

 assaulting any bird of prey that may happen to come within too close a proximity of its home. 

 The tiny creature is in fact a shocking tyrant, jealous to an extreme of its own territories, 

 launching itself furiously at any bird that may seem to be an intruder. It has even been seen 

 to attack the royal eagle itself, and to perch itself upon the head of its gigantic enemy, peck- 

 ing away with hearty good will, and scattering the eagle's feathers in a stream as the aflfrighted 

 bird dashed screaming through the air, vainly attempting to rid itself of its pimy foe. 



The Ruby-throat is very easily tamed, and is a most loving and trustful little creature. 

 Mr. Webber, in the work to which I have already made allusion, has given a most interesting 

 account of a number of Ruby-thi'oats which he succeeded in taming. On several occasions he 

 had enticed the living meteors into his room by placing vases of tempting flowers on the table, 

 and adroitly closing the sash as soon as they were engaged with the flowers, but he had always 

 lost them through their dasliing at the window and striking themselves against the glass. At 

 last, however, his attempts were crowned with success, and "this time I succeeded in securing 

 an uninjured captive, which, to my inexjjressible delight, proved to be one of the Ruby- 

 throated species, the most splendid and diminutive that comes north of Florida. It imme- 

 diately suggested itself to me that a mixture of two parts refined loaf-sugar, with one of fine 

 honey, in ten of water, would make about the nearest approach to the nectar of flowers. 



"While my sister ran to prepare it, I gradually opened my hand to look at my prisoner, 

 and saw, to my no little amusement as well as suspicion, that it was actually ' playing 

 'possum' — feigning to be dead most skilfully. It lay on my open palm motionless for some 

 minutes, during which I watched it in breathless curiosity. I saw it gradually open its bright 

 little eyes to peep whether the way was clear, and then close them slowly as it caught my eye 

 upon it. But when the manufactured nectar came, and a drop was touched upon the point of 

 its bill, it came to life very suddenly ; and in a moment was on its legs, drinking with eager 

 gusto of the refreshing draught from a silver tea-spoon. When sated, it refused to take any 

 more, and sat perched with the coolest self -composure on my finger, and plumed itself quite 

 as artistically as if on its favorite spray. I was enchanted with the bold innocent confidence 

 with which it turned up its keen black eyes to survey us, as much as to say, ' Well, good 

 folks ! who are you ^ " 



Another species belonging to this genus is well worthy of notice, on account of its beauty 

 and interesting habits. This is the Long-tailed Humming-bird of Jamaica {TrbcMlus 

 polytmus), one of the species which do not migrate, but remain in one locality throughout the 

 year. It is remarkable for its two long tail-feathers. 



The upper parts of this beautiful bird are green, glossed with gold, the wings are purple- 

 brown, and the tail black, with a steel-blue reflection. The long streaming feathers of the 

 tail are the pair next to the exterior feathers, and when the bird is in a state of repose they 



