THE HUMMING-BIRDS 183 



of, especially when a number of minutely small ants crawled 

 into the syrup. 



So much at home, indeed, did these birds become, that 

 in the room allotted to them each one, as soon as it had 

 flown round and round once or twice, chose some particular 

 perch for its own. There it alighted, and if any other fairy 

 ventured to find a resting-place there, he was quickly given 

 to understand that the first comer meant to keep the place 

 to himself 



This reminds me that Humming-Birds, like the fairies 

 in children's story - books, are not above quarrelling. 

 Indeed, they have pitched battles, now and then, fighting 

 vigorously in the air. More often than not it is a case of 

 "trespass" that has made them pugnacious, and they will 

 defend what they deem to be their rights in the most 

 spirited fashion. Every feather seems to quiver with 

 anger. If it is some larger species of bird that has 

 intruded, they often make most dangerous attacks 

 with their sharp long beaks, aiming at the eyes of the 

 invader. 



One old writer, with a long Spanish name, declares that 

 they will even hurl themselves at a human being if he 

 comes too near them in nesting- time : " When they see a 

 man climb y'' tree where they have their nests, they flee at 

 his face, and stryke him in the eyes, commyng, going, and 

 returnyng with such swiftnesse, that no man would 

 ryghtly believe it that hath not seen it." 



Those species of Humming-Birds that travel (migrate) 

 have need of courage, for in their long journey in gs at the 

 beginning and end of the summer they must needs pass 

 through wide regions teeming with foes which could destroy 

 them at a blow. But the chief safeguard of such pigmy 

 birds of passage is the lightning swiftness of their move- 



