The Black-chinned Hammer 
Authorities. — Heermann (Trochilus alexandri ), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 
ser. 2, ii., 1853, p. 269 (Sacramento); Gault, Auk, vol. ii., 1885, p. 310 (San Bernardino 
Mts., breeding); Grinnell , Condor, vol. vi., 1904, p. 42 (Palm Springs, Dec.); Univ. Calif. 
Pub. Zool., vol. xii., 1914, p. 143, fig. (Colorado Valley; habits, nests); Thayer and Bangs, 
Auk, vol. xxiv., 1907, p. 312 (hybrid). 
THE MECHANICS of flight is engaging the attention of man as 
never before in the world’s history. By dint of much contriving, we 
have succeeded at last in compelling certain combinations of wood and 
canvas and aluminum to lift us into the air; and when we are so lifted 
we find ourselves quite at the mercy of our very fallible contraptions. 
The way of wings is not with us, nor indeed the understanding of them. 
Though the mathematics of aeronautics 
now fills volumes, the big, simple 
things, which are Nature’s common¬ 
places, remain still unmastered. Go 
to the Hummer, thou aeronaut. Con¬ 
sider her ways and learn the trick, if 
you can. 
A baby hummingbird can fly per- F*ag 
fectly from the cradle. He 
may, indeed, be seen vibrat- 
ing his wings without leaving 
the nest, much as an aviator 
sets his propeller to spinning 
just to try his motor; but 
when the moment of flight 
comes, and the bird does cast 
off, there are no motor troubles nor is there any amateurish guess-work. 
The wings buzz until the bird is surrounded by a circle of shimmering 
light (irresistibly comparable to that of revolving propeller blades), 
and the bird rises—that is all. The rest is a matter of observation but 
not of imitation on our part. 
A hummingbird flies in any direction it pleases. It is like a queen 
played at chess in three dimensions. She has all the privileges. For¬ 
ward, backward, straight upward or sidewise, it is all one to those facile 
wings. The action of the wings is greatly assisted, no doubt, by the 
mobile tail; and it may be that the backward dash, by which the bird 
retreats from unexpected danger, is limited in range to the spasmodic 
thrust of that important organ. Anyhow, the tail jerks forward in a 
down-sweep, like the telson of a lobster, and the bird goes backward 
three or four feet, or, oftener, backward and upward. Those wings, 
also, are capable of the nicest calculation, in spite of their apparently 
Taken in the Ojai 
A DARK DEED 
THE FEEDING OPERATION LOOKS LIKE A MASSACRE 
Photo by Dickey 
955 
