192 
THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMIYOt-BIRI). 
over, and that her babe is saved. These are the scenes best fitted to enable 
us to partake of sorrow and joy, and to determine every one who views 
them to make it his study to contribute to the happiness of others, and to 
refrain from wantonly or maliciously giving them pain. 
I have seen humming-birds in Louisiana as early as the 10th of March. 
Their appearance in that State varies, however, as much as in any other, it 
being sometimes a fortnight later, or, although rarely, a few days earlier. 
In the Middle Districts, they seldom arrive before the loth of April, more 
usually the beginning of May. I have not been able to assure myself 
whether they migrate during the day or by night, but am inclined to think 
the latter the case, as they seem to be busily feeding at all times of the day, 
which would not be the case had they long flights to perform at that period. 
They pass through the air in long undulations, raising themselves for some 
distance at an angle of about 40 degrees, and then falling In a curve ; but the 
smallness of their size precludes the possibility of following them farther 
than fifty or sixty yards without great difficulty, even with a good glass. A 
person standing in a garden by the side of a Common Althaea in bloom, will 
be as surprised to hear the humming of their wings, and then see the birds 
themselves -within a few feet of him, as he will be astonished at the rapidity 
with which the little creatures rise into the air, and are out of sight and 
hearing the next moment. They do not alight on the ground, but easily 
settle on twigs and branches, where they move sidewise in prettily measured 
steps, frequently opening and closing their wings, pluming, shaking and 
arranging the whole of their apparel with neatness and activity. They are 
particularly fond of spreading one wing at a time, and passing each of the 
quill-feathers through their bill in its whole length, when, if the sun is 
shining, the wing thus plumed is rendered extremely transparent and light. 
They leave the twig without the least difficulty in an instant, and appear to 
be possessed of superior powers of vision, making directly towards a Martin 
or a Blue-bird when fifty or sixty yards from them, and reaching them 
before they are aware of their approach > No bird seems to resist their 
attacks, but they are sometimes chased by the larger kinds of humble-bees, 
of which they seldom take the least notice, as their superiority of flight is 
sufficient to enable them to leave these slow moving insects far behind in the 
short space of a minute. 
The nest of this Humming-bird is of the most delicate nature, the external 
parts being formed of a light grey lichen found on the branches of trees, or 
on decayed fence-rails, and so neatly ai-ranged round the whole nest, as well 
as to some distance from the spot where it is attached, as to seem part of the 
branch or stem itself. These little pieces of lichen are glued together with 
the saliva of the bird. The next coating consists of cottony substance, and 
