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The West Afflerican Scientist. 



Vol. XII. No. ID. 



March, jgoz. 



Whole No. Ill . 



HUMMINGBIRDS. 



Nearly 500 species and sub-species of 

 humming-birds are now known. These 

 are divided among- about 100 genera. 

 They are found only in the American 

 continent and its associated islands. 

 Scarcely any part of this area, except 

 the colder arctic and antarctic regions, 

 is without one or more species of hum- 

 mingbird during some part of the year. 

 In the cooler parts of this area they are 

 only summer residents, migrating to- 

 ward the tropics as soon as the flowers 

 cease blooming. Tropical species mi- 

 grate but little or not at all. 



The traveling flight, if it may be so 

 called, of our species is undulating, 

 somewhat like that of a woodpecker. 

 The shorter, common flights are direct, 

 ■with reg-ular wing strokes. These di- 

 rect flights sometimes attain an aston- 

 ishing velocity, most hummingbirds be- 

 ing able to overtake almost any other 

 bird they choose to pursue. They are 

 peculiar among birds in being able to 

 fly backwards, which they regularly do 

 in backing out from any deep flower 

 they may be feeding in. The flight is 

 often erratic, and sudden pauses are 

 frequently made, when the bird hovers 

 as if suspended in air, the rapidly mov- 

 ing wings being s«en only as flickering 

 mist about the body. 



Humming-birds are nearly fearless, 

 their extreme speed and dexterity in 

 turning sharply enabling them to eas- 

 ily avoid any other bird, should it at- 

 tempt to pursue them. They never 

 alight on the ground, their short lege 

 being! unfitted for walking. They perch 

 on twigs or small branches, usually on 

 those sitmated sufficiently in the open to 

 give a good view of passing insects, a 



part of their food being caught in 

 flight, flycatcher-like. A considerable 

 part of their insect food is gleaned 

 among the foliage of shrubbery and 

 trees. Another portion is taken in 

 flowers with the nectar found there. 

 Sometimes nectar forms the greater 

 part of their food. 



Hummingbirds are very active, their 

 periods of rest being usually short, 

 though frequent. Many species are 

 pugnacious, but often the seeming 

 Quarrels are only frolics. Most species 

 have favorite feeding grounds from 

 which they are inclined to drive other 

 birds. Though not able to injure other 

 birds, their activity in attack is suffi- 

 ciently annoying that most birds pre- 

 fer to leave when thus requested to do 

 so. The notes are quite varied in char- 

 acter and several species have a song, 

 consisting of a low more or less musi- 

 cal warh:r>. 



The body colors of most females and 

 of many males are some shade -of 

 green, often tinged with gold. The 

 males of many species are ornamented 

 with gorgets, ruffs, crests or peculiarly 

 shaped tail feathers, these being often 

 of exquisite metallic colors. As is the 

 usual rule among birds, the females are 

 commonly plainly colored. 



The nesting habif!s of hummingbirds 

 are similar in general character to 

 those of other families of bush- or 

 tree-nesting birds. The nests are com^ 

 monly saddled on some sma,ll branch, 

 and are cup-shaped, open on the top. 

 They are warm, thick-walled, well 

 made structures and from their small 

 size and neat workmanship are dainty 

 examples of bird homes. "She eggs are 

 two in number, pure white, oval in 



