HUMMING BIRD. 
207 
JiQ^ go feebly constructed and delicate a little 
(ij^’dure can make its way over such extensive regions 
lakes and forests, among- so many enemies, all its 
in strength and magnitude. But its very 
j/'*'iteiiess, the rapidity of its (light, vvliich almost 
aes the eye, and that admirable instinct, reason, or 
^.i'?lavi>r else it may be called, and daring courage, 
heaven has imj)lanted in its bosom, are its guides 
fj,, protectors. In these we may also jiereeive the 
li(, ***'*'*> "'I'y an all-wise Providence has made this little 
an exception to a rule which prevails almost uni- 
(ij.'^ally through nature, vin. that the smallest species 
* tribe are tlie most prolitic. The eagle lays one, 
S(iI*'®li'aos two, eggs; the crow, live; tlie titmouse, 
L''''a or eight ; the small European wren, (ifteeu ; the 
^j“‘'>miiig bird, two: and yet this latter is abundantly 
numerous iu America tliau the wren in Europe. 
4 '' . 
. III 
n. .-I’out the 2jth of Aiiril, the humming bird usually 
in Pcnnsj'Ivaiiiii; and about the 10th ot May 
to build its nest. This is generally lixed on the 
b ' 
side of a horizontal braucli,''not among the twigs, 
lijj tin the body of the branch itself. Yet I have 
instances where it was attached hy the side to 
moss-grown trunk ; and othei-s where it was 
‘lied on a strong rank stalk, or weed, iu the garden ; 
oil lliese cases an- rare. In the woods it very often 
ilf*P***is a white oak sajiling to build on ; and in the 
j| ‘'"'(1, or garden, selects a pe.ar tree for that purpose. 
I’m* *'*'t*uch is seldom more than ten feet from the 
''°<1. The nest is about an inch in diameter, and 
ln,j.‘'''ieli ill depth. A very complete one is now lying 
me, and the materials of « Inch it is composed 
l)i(,,*^* follow: — The outward coat is formed of small 
'‘1 (in ** species of bluish gray lichen that vegetates 
If ?, and fences, thichly glued on w ith the saliva 
nr giving (irmness and consistency to the 
k(j “s W'ell as kee]iiiig out moisture. Within this 
flyj '“*ok, matted layers of the line wings of certain 
S' Seeds, closely laid together} and, lastly, the 
