HUMMING BIRD. 
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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 is continued round the stem of 
the branch, to which it closely adheres ; and, when viewed 
from below, appears a mere mossy knot or accidental protu- 
berance. The eggs are two, pure white, and of equal thickness 
at both ends. The nest and eggs in the plate were copied with 
great precision, and by actual measurement, from one just taken 
in from the woods. On a person’s approaching their nest, the 
little proprietors dart around with a humming sound, passing 
frequently within a few inches of one’s head ; and, should the 
young be newly hatched, the female will resume her place on 
the nest even while you stand within a yard or two of the 
spot. The precise period of incubation I am unable to give ; 
but the young are in the habit, a short time before they leave 
the nest, of thrusting their bills into the mouths of their parents, 
and sucking what they have brought them. 1 never could 
perceive that they carried them any animal food ; though, 
from circumstances that will presently be mentioned, I think 
it highly probable they do. As I have found their nests with 
eggs so late as the 12th of July, I do not doubt but that they 
frequently, and perhaps usually, raise two broods in the same 
season. 
The Humming Bird is extremely fond of tubular flowers, 
and I have often stopt, with pleasure, to observe his manoeuvres 
among the blossoms of the trumpet flower. When arrived 
before a thicket of these, that are full blown, he poises, or 
suspends, himself on wing, for the space of two or three 
seconds, so steadily, that his wings become invisible, or only 
like a mist; and you can plainly distinguish the pupil of his 
eye looking round with great quickness and circumspection ; 
the glossy golden green of his back, and the fire of his throat, 
