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Bird - Lore 



depended upon her, she bravely flew all 

 around the camera, examining it critically 

 and lighting upon the edge of the nest, and 

 gave them the feast for which their wide- 

 open mouths began to plead at exactly 

 the dinner-hour. I pulled the thread just 

 as the mother lit upon the edge of the 

 nest. In another exposure I caught her 

 feeding the young bird (one had dis- 

 appeared when very small), but as the 

 light was poor, an exposure of one-fiftieth 



A SANTA BARBARA HUMMER 



of a second gave little detail. Unfortu- 

 nately, confidence and want of suspicion 

 in building her nest so near the earth (and 

 the untaught small boy) brought a sad 

 tragedy, as a boy took the nest and bird, 

 and they were both found on a path not 

 far distant — the bird dead. 



Surely, through the splendid work of 

 the Audubon Society and nature-study 

 in the schools, together with many charm- 

 ing bird-books, we may hope that our 

 birds, our trees, and our flowers may soon 

 be appreciated as blessings that will need 

 no protection of the law, but, until that 



time arrives, let intelligent instruction in 

 our homes and schools go hand in hand 

 with enforced laws. Warnings are posted 

 to protect forests, and might it not be well 

 to have such warnings, or at least sugges- 

 tions for the protection of birds, placed in 

 our schools and libraries? — Oscar R. 

 Coast, Santa Barbara, Calif. 



The Black-chinned Hummingbird 



I had an enjoyable experience last 

 summer, at Eugene, Ore., with a Black- 

 chinned Hummingbird, which will, per- 

 haps, be of interest to other bird-lovers. 



One day, early in May, we spied a pair 

 of those living jewels darting about the 

 loganberry bushes. The next day, the 

 female came often about the bushes, but 

 we never again saw the male. I have been 

 told that he never shares in any of the 

 domestic affairs of his kind — builds no 

 nest — feeds no young. Certain it is that 

 this one shirked all responsibilities. 



Little lady bird chose a most uncommon 

 location for her nest, selecting a bush that 

 grew close beside the walk, where we passed 

 a dozen times a day, within 6 feet of the 

 kitchen door. No attempt was made to 

 shield or hide it, but, rather, it was placed 

 on the very outer stalk. 



Thinking to encourage her to remain 

 where we might watch the process of nest- 

 building, my friend hung bits of cotton- 

 batting and silk threads in the bushes. 

 These the bird used almost exclusively. 

 I doubt the wisdom of her choice, for, 

 when a long rainy spell set in, the tiny 

 nest was soaked, and became so heavy as 

 to be almost dislodged from its frail support 

 on the stalk. 



But, when newly made, a more dainty 

 bird-home cannot be imagined. A silver 

 dollar would easily cap the top. John 

 Burroughs tells us we should not attri- 

 bute any artistic sense to birds. I do not 

 question that high authority, but I am 

 glad this Hummingbird's "inherited in- 

 stinct" prompted her to cover the outside 

 of her nest with gray-green moss or bits of 

 lichen. 



The tiny home-builder was so industri- 



