Notes from Field and Study 



293 



ous that in a few days the nest was com- 

 pleted, and, directly, two . pure white 

 eggs lay like pearls in a velvet jewel-case. 

 They were scarcely larger than navy 

 beans. 



Now began an anxious season, at least 

 for us. The rain and cold continued. 

 Scarcely any sunshine ever reached the 

 nest, on the north side of the house. Sleet 

 and hail beat upon it. For days the cotton 

 was a soggy mass, and, worst of all, little 

 Betty Flewster, as my friend had nick- 

 named her, would be gone from the nest 

 several hours at a time. Repeatedly we 

 said in despair, "Those eggs will never 

 hatch." 



But Lady Betty knew her business better 

 that we, though we had declared her a 

 "greenhorn," both in the choice of loca- 

 tion and, later, in the care of her eggs, for 

 in just two weeks from the day the first 

 egg was laid, my friend called to me 

 excitedly, "The first egg is hatched! 

 There's a bird in the nest!" The next 

 morning the other egg was hatched. 



Such funny little birdlings, no larger 

 than yellow-jackets, with no hint of a 

 feather on their wrinkled bodies, except 

 three greenish barbs on each wing. 



For several days they were too weak to 

 raise their heads and were blind as little 

 kittens. We wondered how the mother 

 bird succeeded in feeding them during that 

 stage, but could never happen to be pres- 

 ent at mealtime. Perhaps they, like little 

 chickens, require little or no food for the 

 first three days. 



Later, when they were stronger, and 

 eyes open, we had several glimpses at the 

 feeding process. Perched on the edge of 

 the nest, the old bird thrust her bill, seem- 

 ingly full length, into the gaping mouths 

 and went through a pumping, ramming pro- 

 cess that seemed certain to pierce their 

 little bodies. Of just what the food con- 

 sisted, we were never able to determine,but 

 of whatever nature, the birdlings thrived 

 on it. 



Gradually the wrinkled bodies grew 

 plump; the little greenish barbs on each 

 wing showed where feathers would later 

 appear. Their backs were first hairy, then 



glossy, golden green with minute feathers. 

 When fully grown, they closely resembled 

 the mother. 



I had always supposed that Humming- 

 birds were very shy, but we found this 

 one quite approachable and very curious. 

 After an hour of quiet, patient maneuver- 

 ing, my friend succeeded in persuading the 

 bird to sip honey from flowers in her hand, 

 and later fed her with jelly, while sitting 

 on the nest. 



I made several unsuccessful attempts to 

 get pictures. The kodak excited her cur- 

 iosity and some fear. Again and again she 

 circled around it, coming closer each time, 

 till finally, having several times tapped it 

 daintily with her bill, she seemed satisfied 

 it meant no harm, so settled calmly on 

 her nest. 



All during the nesting-time. Lady Betty 

 seemed to consider the berry-bush her 

 special property, and waged instant and 

 furious warfare on all intruders, big or 

 little, bee or bird. 'Twas quite funny to 

 watch her when she discovered a bee in 

 the flower she wished to visit. Instantl}^ 

 she became a little fury. Her feathers 

 stood out, and the humming became 

 double-quick and so loud that the invader 

 fled in terror. Even the Swallows who were 

 housekeeping in a bird-house nearby, 

 appeared to respect her rights, and quickly 

 withdrew when that fiery dart hurled her- 

 self at them. I, too, have flinched when it 

 seemed aimed straight at my eyes. 



I know of no way to attract Humming- 

 birds to build near about our homes, but 

 when those tiny creatures favor you as we 

 were favored, consider it time well spent 

 to watch them closely. — Ella Getchell, 

 Willmar, Minn. 



Birds and Bees 



For three seasons now we have had 

 rather unusual bird tragedies in our garden. 

 Although our house is set on a lot of only 

 about one-half acre, we have occupants 

 in the Wren, Bluebird, and Martin houses, 

 and there are Red-headed Woodpeckers in 

 the soft maples. In our back yard we have 

 a great may colonies of bees, and a day in 



