Food and Habits of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — On June 5, 
1888, I secured a nest, containing one young bird and an egg on the 
point of hatching, of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The nest is a 
very peculiar one, being constructed upon one of the preceding year, 
and in a very conspicuous situation upon a branch of sycamore, which 
inclined at an angle of 45 0 . It was about twelve feet from the ground, on 
the lowest branch (a dead one), with no foliage whatever to afford con- 
cealment, and could be readily seen from a distance of sixty to seventy- 
five feet in any direction. 
The old nest is much the worse for wear, having passed through at 
least one winter ; the new one was built partly on one edge of this and 
partly on the adjoining branch, leaving fully one-half of the distorted 
cavity at the base exposed. The entire external surface of both is cov- 
ered in the usual way with lichens, although not in any way resembling 
the smooth, mottled surfaces adjoining. It would seem that the scenes 
of bygone associations have some permanent attractions, even though 
comparatively barren to our eyes. 
Perhaps the most interesting facts were brought to light when the 
young one, about two days old, was examined. Its throat being much 
distended, I sought the cause by lightly pressing with a dull instrument 
from the thorax toward the bill, and succeeded in bringing to light, six- 
teen young spiders of uniform size. These measured about .11 of an 
inch in length, and with outspread legs covered a circle of .26 of an inch 
in diameter. Dissection revealed a pultaceous mass of the same in the 
stomach, but no more liquid than would result during digestion of insects 
of this gelatinous character. They were all of the same species, and may 
have been young found about certain plants in the immediate vicinity. It 
is surprising that young Hummingbirds of this age could thrive, as it 
would seem, entirely upon insects, although the quality be of the finest. 
Although I spent several hours watching this nest, on different occasions, 
no food was brought at such times, but the actions of the female, as seen 
through a strong field glass at short range, were decidedly interesting. The 
approach to the nest was as usually described in about one third of the rec- 
ords — /. <?., directly to a point’over and close to the nest, then dropping light- 
ly into it. The general method, however, was by a dashing flight to within 
twelve or fifteen feet, a sudden pause while poised in the air, anxiously 
looking about her, then one or two feet further, another pause with the 
same manoeuvres, to be repeated until at last, she dropped into the nest 
as ordinarily. This entire procedure occupied less than ten seconds. A 
few times she seemed to fly directly into the nest without any prelimi- 
naries. 
Just after settling in the nest, she had a habit of occasionally com- 
pletely turning around in it, one or more times. This was a hitching 
motion, as if by the use of her feet, meanwhile appearing to re-arrange 
the material on the outside and as if shaping the interior to her better 
satisfaction by this treading motion. At other times, spreading her 
wings over the nest in a seeming ec.stacy of delight, she rather flutter- 
ingly turned around in it, apparently without regard for its precious 
contents. 
There seemed to be one never varying position when at rest, that 
facing the more open part of the grove, the usual direction of approach be- 
ing from behind, whereas the flight from the nest was toward the clearer 
space in front. The sitting posture was not one of absolute rest at any 
time, as the head was constantly in motion, so that no approach could be 
made without her knowledge, The flight from the nest seemed to be 
directly out of it, without any preliminaries. The weather was warm, 
yet she would remain on the nest from fifteen to twenty minutes, and in 
no instance was away more than two minutes, while I had her under ob- 
servation. The male frequently appeared in the vicinity, but neither of- 
fered food or even deigned to alight on the same tree, yet birds which 
had a good claim in the neighborhood dared not approach very close, as 
the combined attack of these active birds always proved so distasteful 
that they invariably beat a hasty retreat.— Edwin H. Eames, Bridgeport , 
Conn - Anki TIL July, 1890, p, XW. 
