HUMMING-BIRD. 



a little creature can make its way over such extensive regions of 

 lakes and forests, among so many enemies, all its superiors in 

 strength and magnitude. But its very minuteness^ the rapidity of 

 its flight, which almost eludes the eye, and that admirable instinct, 

 reason, or whatever else it may be called, and daring courage which 

 heaven has implanted in its bosom, are its guides and protectors. In 

 these we may also perceive the reason, why an all- wise Providence 

 has made this little hero an exception to a rule which prevails al- 

 most universally thro nature, viz, that the smallest species of a tribe 

 are the most prolific. The Eagle lays one, sometimes two, eggs ; 

 the Crow five ; the Titmouse seven or eight ; the small European 

 Wren fifteen; the Humming-bird two\ and yet this latter is abun- 

 dantly more numerous in America than the Wren is in Europe. 



About the twenty-fifth of April the Humming-bird usually 

 arrives in Pennsylvania; and about the tenth of May begins to 

 build its nest. This is generally fixed on the upper side of a hori- 

 zontal branch, not among the twigs, but on the body of the branch 

 itself. Yet I have known instances where it was attached by the 

 side to an old moss-grown trunk; and others where it was fastened 

 on a strong rank stalk, or weed, in the garden ; but these cases are 

 rare. In the woods it very often chooses a white oak sapling to 

 build on; and in the orchard, or garden, selects a pear tree for 

 that purpose. The branch is seldom more than ten feet from the 

 ground. The nest is about an inch in diameter, and as much in 

 depth. A very complete one is now lying before me, and the ma- 

 terials of which it is composed are as follow: — The outward coat 

 is formed of small pieces of a species of bluish grey lichen that 

 vegetates on old trees and fences, thickly glued on with the saliva 

 of the bird, giving firmness and consistency to the whole, as well 

 as keeping out moisture. Within this are thick matted layers of 

 the fine wings of certain flying seeds, closely laid together; and, 

 lastly, the downy substance from the great mullein, and from the 

 stalks of the common fern, lines the whole. The base of the nest 



