HUMMING-BIRDS. 
101 
birds. “ When attending their young, they attack 
any bird indiscriminately that approaches the nest. 
Their motions, when under the influence of anger or 
fear, are very violent, and their flights rapid as an 
arrow. The eye cannot follow them, but the shrill 
piercing shriek which they utter on the wing, may be 
heard when the bird is invisible, and often led to their 
destruction by preparing me for their approach. They 
attack the eyes of the larger birds, and their sharp 
needle-like bill is a truly formidable weapon in this 
kind of warfare. Nothing can exceed their fierceness 
when one of their own species invades their territory 
during the breeding season ; under the influence of 
jealousy they becomeperfect furies ; theirthroats swell ; 
their crests, tails, and wings expand ; they fight in 
the air, uttering a shrill noise, till one falls exhausted 
to the ground.” And an older writer, Fernando 
Oviedo, still farther confirms their boldness : — “ When 
they see a man climb the tree where they have their 
nests, they flee at his face, and stryke him in the eyes, 
eommying, goying, and returnying, with such swyft. 
ness, that no man woulde ryglitly beleive it that hath 
not seen it.” 
The nests are built with great delicacy, but at the 
same time with much compactness and warmth. 
Wilson thus describes the situation and workmanship 
of the northern, or ruby-throated humming-bird, and 
which is also confirmed by Audubon. “ It is generally 
fixed on the upper side of a horizontal branch, not 
among the twigs. Yet I have known instances where 
