290 



BIRDS 



liardly any nest, even depositinfi; their eggs, at times, on 

 ba.i'e rocks or on the roofs of houses, in cities. 



Tiie humming l)irils are well known for their small size, 

 long, slender bills, bright metallic colors, and tlie humming 

 noise made In' the i^ajiid ^'ilirations of their \\ings as they 



Ijoise over a flower 

 in search of nectar. 

 Figure 194 sliows 

 the nest of the ruby- 

 throated humniing 

 bird in the branches 

 of an ajijile tree. 



The chimney swifts 

 (Fig. 10.5) are seen in 

 (locks j)assing down 

 a chimney at night- 

 fall. Here they build 

 their nests of small 

 brandies glued to the 

 sides of the chimney 

 iFig. 1!)6). 



Parrots. — The par- 

 rots are mainly in- 

 liabitants of the 

 Iropical parts of 

 th(> world, especially 

 South America and 

 )ill is short and stout and the up]ier half 

 and curves over the lower half. The 

 majority have a brilliant plumage, but some of them are 

 dressed in sober hues. The tongue is large and soft and 

 capable of vcr}- fice movement. They are, by nature, great 



-Car 



Austi-alia. The 

 extends JM^'oni 



