MY HUMMING BIRDS. 



67 



furnish you some idea of the tedious processes of the practical natu- 

 ralist. My father had some men at work, "getting out logs," as it 

 is called, on a considerable creek, two miles off. One of them, who 

 knew of my passion for these birds, mentioned to me that he had 

 twice, while watering his horse at a certain crossing in the woods, 

 observed a Humming Bird fly past over the middle of the channel, 

 and up the stream. This, he said, was about five o'clock both times. 

 This was enough for me. I ordered my horse, and in a few mo- 

 ments was under whip and spur — for it was nearly that time now — 

 for this little ford. I reached it a few minutes before five by a 

 bridal path. I sat upon my horse until dusk in the middle of the 

 stream, but no Humming Bird. Next day I came at noon — staid 

 an hour with no avail. I went at four again, and staid until half- 

 past five, but still no bird. I was not discouraged, but as I rode 

 slowly home, determined to change my tactics next day, for I 

 remembered that my impatient horse had been pawing in the water 

 all the time, and this, no doubt, had alarmed the cautious birds, and 

 caused them to change their usual course. Next day I chose my 

 position under some thick overhanging trees, where I could see and 

 not be seen. I did not see them on the morning watch. In the 

 afternoon, precisely at five, the male came by, and I had the satis- 

 faction of seeing that it was a Ruby-throat. I judged from the 

 height at which it flew that the nest was not very far off. 



Well, to make a long story short, I came the next day and took 

 my station a hundred and fifty yards farther up the stream — saw 

 them both pass at five, flying, I thoxight, just a little lower; the next 

 evening I moved still farther up with the same result. The next 

 I did not move so far — for here was a straight stretch of the channel 

 of considerable length, and I could command it with my eye from 

 where I stood. Here I saw them go by, one a few minutes after 

 the other, and observed that their flight was very low: but after they 

 had passed me a short distance, each of them shot suddenly and 

 perpendicularly up into the air, until I lost sight of them. The 

 next evening it was the same thing, and now I was convinced that 

 the nest must be close at hand; that they rose in this sudden manner 

 to make a perpendicular descent which would baffle pursuit from all 

 enemies. 



I watched at this place three evenings more, changing my position 

 only a little each time, before I had the satisfaction at last of seeing 

 the female come down, like a falling aerolite from the clouds, and 

 drop upon her nest. I had thus spent more than a whole week in 

 this patient pursuit, and now that it had been crowned with success, 

 I wheeled my horse, and with an indescribable feeling of both 

 pride and joy, galloped home with the news to my sister. I had 

 conquered one of the stubbornest secrets of nature—not this time. 



