MY HUMMING BIRDS. 
117 
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 satisfaction 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 about a hundred and fifty yards far- 
ther up the stream — saw them both pass at five, flying, I 
thought, 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 strait 
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 now very low ; but after they had pass- 
ed me a short distance, each of them shot suddenly and per- 
pendicularly 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 
near 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 serolite 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 by accident, 
but by science and perseverance. I was proud of it, and so 
was she. At the proper time I brought the young birds 
