12 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
Color Sense in Humming Birds 
By Lucy V. BAaxTER CoFFIN 
Mr. William Rowan, in his recent interesting book, “he Riddle of 
Migration,” remarks that because of a lack in the structure of the eye, birds 
are probably not sensitive to color. From his studies, he doubts if they recog- 
nize violet or blue, but finds them as sensitive to yellow as is mankind. 
In observing Humming Birds feeding, my conclusion has been they 
are entirely dependent upon color as a guide to food supply and that they 
are more sensitive to red than to other colors. However, on a high plateau 
in the Rockies, I came upon a great patch of Hare Bells (Campanula 
Rapunculoides), and over the blossoms were numbers of Humming Birds. 
Also, in my wild flower garden, the first flower in the Spring to attract 
the Ruby-throat is the Virginia Cowslip (Mertensia Virginica), which 
is a lovely blue. 
The unfailing flower, though, with ever-satisfying food supply, is the 
wild Columbine (Aqueligia Canadensis). “here are various beds of this 
about the place, and the Humming Birds fly with unerring wings from one 
to another, seeming to have a fixed route. At times they make a charming 
picture by lighting in a well-grown plant for a moment of rest, then con- 
tinuing their course: “The predominating color of these flowers is red. 
‘Tulips, Roses and Peontes are visited, although they have small honey con- 
tent and are chiefly either pink or some shade of red. A vase of Tulips 
on the inner sill of a closed window caused a Humming Bird to pause on 
the wing for a second. 
‘The ‘Trumpet Creeper is another regular source of food supply; this 
with its orange red flowers, is seldom without a Humming Bird feeding in 
its clusters. The Scarlet Salvia is still another red flower constantly fre- 
quented by this bird, so constantly that the family cat has learned a dainty 
morsel can easily be picked up here. 
When sitting on a vine covered porch one afterncon a Humming Bird 
flew against me, apparently because I was wearing a bright dress. One 
very early morning, before rising time for humans, I was conscious of the 
humming of wings and was amused to find a Humming Bird dipping from 
flower to flower of my red flowered comfort. 
One year the resident pair came regularly to the Buckeye tree near 
the house (this was Aesculus Glabra), which was laden with its creamy 
blossoms, but this year it was ignored. ‘The sweet scented Honeysuckle, 
which is white when fresh and full of honey, they seem to visit infrequently, 
and the very fragrant, waxy single uberose was entirely ignored this sum- 
mer, though food seemed rather at a premium just then. ‘These instances 
would suggest that white flowers were not noticed by these birds. 
