The Summer Home of the Humming-bird. 145 



dwell on the subject of its wilderness haunts, I might attempt 

 to picture a scene in early June, when the balmy south winds 

 and sweet sylvan landscape tempted me forth with my rod to 

 the alder-fringed brook in search of trout, through the rapidly 

 rising vegetation of the old beaver meadow, among the 

 gorgeously attired orchises, the purple trilliums, the wild 

 yellow lily, and the welcome remembrancer of home the chaste 

 anemone ; when the forest resounds with the notes of many a 

 joyous songster, and the twin flower is perfuming the atmo- 

 sphere ;* there, with the busy bee, it may be seen flitting from 

 one favourite flower to another. The constant activity of its 

 movements is surprising, as is also its dogged indifference 

 to man's presence. I have often stood within an arm's length 

 of flowers over which individuals were humming; indeed, in 

 attempts to get at favourite plants it will enter houses and con- 

 servatories, and if captured feign death by shutting its eyes and 

 lying motionless, when the inert body will suddenly make a des- 

 perate effort to escape.f The clustering flowers of the currant 

 are especially preferred by them, perhaps on account of their 

 being the first garden plant that blooms. At all events, it is 

 around them that we see humming-birds in the greatest abun- 

 dance : sometimes six or eight may be observed hovering 

 about, the males chasing each other in rival emulation for 

 choice of the females, and greatly to the discomfort of the 

 humble bees that frequent the same plants. On one occasion 



* The two-flowered Linaea {Lincea borealis), although familiarly known 

 to the Scottish botanist, being met with on the banks of the Dee and else- 

 where, is a northern plant, and abounds in Norway and Sweden, where, as 

 in New Brunswick, the sweet fragrant odour of its modest-looking flowers 

 permeates the woods and forests for miles. In thus blooming early it has 

 been likened to the career of the immortal Swedish naturalist whose 

 name it bears, and who first pointed out its characteristics, and " with 

 whom this humble but charming plant was an especial favourite." — See 

 Gray y s Lessons in North American Botany, p. 163. 



f This mode of feigning death reminds one of certain beetles, not to 

 speak of such animals as the jackal of India, which often simulates the 

 stillness of death when captured by hounds. 



