180 Mr. Peabody on the 
its feathers, without caring who observes its motions. 
It is a mistake to suppose that the honey of flowers 
is its principal support; it is rather its luxury than’ 
its means of subsistence ; without a supply of insecis, 
it will perish, as those have found who have en- 
deavored to keep it on honey and sugar. This deli- 
cate little bird is easily reconciled to confinement, 
but it is so very sensitive to cold, that a northern 
winter will destroy it, however carefully it is guarded. 
The nest of the humming bird is very ingeniously 
constructed. It is generally placed on the large hor- , 
izontal branch of an apple tree, and covered with 
moss so as to resemble the place where a limb has 
been taken off and a circle of bark has risen round 
the spot. As the female is green, birds of prey 
might easily pass over it, without discovering the 
nest below. Their nests are sometimes built in 
small trees and shrubs. I have seen one on the 
drooping limb of a peach tree, not more than three 
feet from the ground, and this was carefully covered 
with moss, though there was none upon the tree. If 
any one goes up to the nest, the parent flies up to 
him as an intimation that he is doing wrong, then 
alights almost within the reach of his arm, and 
watches his motions with composed attention. The 
parents feed their young with affectionate care, till 
they are able to fly, and for about a week after. 
The young do not come to their full plumage till the 
following spring. 
