78 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
and then dash at an other flower, they 
look like bright winged flowers. 
Occasionally they smack their lips as 
though the honey were good. The Hum- 
ming Bird appears partial to red flowers. 
It holds itself poised before a honeysuckle, 
nasturtium, or other red flower. The lit¬ 
tle wings beat the air so rapidly, that the 
bird needs no limb upon which to stand 
while it drinks the nectar from the flow¬ 
er cups. 
Our Rufous Hummer loves to place her 
nest in a rose bush up against a house. I 
do not mean that she always builds there! 
I have found the nest fastened to a Devil’s 
Club in the depth of the forest. What a 
dainty home it is—a tiny cotton cup, cov¬ 
ered with lichens. It looks like a small 
knot upon the limb. Two white eggs, the 
size of small beans are placed in the nest. 
The bird never varies from this number. 
PACIFIC NIGHT HAWK 
This bird is a close relative to the Hum¬ 
mer. As is often true of relatives, tliev 
don't look much alike. 
Night Hawk has a big mouth and al¬ 
most no bill. He flies with his mouth 
open. It is his insect trap. He catches 
the insects as he flies. 
His name sometimes gets him into 
trouble. It suggests mischief; but he is 
a hawk for insects only. Like the swal- 
