MT HUMMING BIRDS. 



61 



only formed tlie outside of its nest to correspond in shape and size 

 exactly with the natural knots on other limbs — hut had so skilfully 

 covered the outside with the same kind of moss which grew upon 

 them, that no eye, however practised, could have discovered the 

 deception from beneath. Having gratified my curiosity as far as 

 prudent, without running the risk of driving her from the nest, I 

 descended cautiously, and ran home with the news : and great was 

 the joy thereat between my little playmate and myself. 



Now came the anxious time for us; we were dying to get a sight 

 of the eggs, and yet afraid to disturb the birds. I conquered this 

 difficulty at last by patience. I found, after watching for several 

 mornings, that they both left the nest on warm days aboxit noon, 

 and were gone sometimes nearly an hour. We took this opportunity, 

 and having climbed up first, so as to shew her, my sister followed — 

 the girls used to climb like squirrels, in Kentucky, in my young 

 days! — and many were the expressions of childish delight, as she 

 peeped over and saw those three little eggs — about the size of 

 black-eyed peas — lying like snowy pearls, (if not diamonds, as I 

 used to expect,) embedded in a fairy case, all lined with cygnet- 

 clown, or the delicate floss of elfin-hair. We did not touch, or 

 even breathe on it, and descended quickly, lest the old birds should 

 find us there. 



I was unexpectedly compelled to leave home about this time, and 

 my sister promised that she would not disturb the nest till my 

 return. After an unexpected detention of three weeks I got back, 

 and the first thing the next morning we -were on our way, with 

 many misgivings, to visit our treasures. I climbed the tree, and 

 to my infinite astonishment, two birds entirely filled the nest, and 

 in such full size and pei-fect plumage, that I thought I must have 

 come too late, and that these were the old ones. They looked at 

 me as boldly as I have seen young eagles look unflinchingly on the 

 intruder into their eyrie. I determined to attempt the capture, at 

 any rate, and reached my hand towards them with a gradual and 

 almost imperceptible movement. They watched its approach with 

 no sign of fear, and when I had approached it within an inch, one 

 of them boldly pecked at it as it descended, gently covering them 

 as they sat. I shouted for joy. 



"I have them! I have them!" and then suck dancing and clap- 

 ping of hands as there was below. 



"Hurry! hurry, brother! I want to see them. I want to seel 

 I want to see!" 



Eor a wonder I got down without breaking my neck. I had, 

 with slight violence, taken the nest with the birds from the limb 

 entire. _ They made not the slightest effort to escape, nor did they 

 seem in the least frightened. We hurried away, lest we should 



