The most common, as well as the most beautiful, species of
humming-birds, is the ruby-throat, a name given to it on account of the
delicate metallic feathers, which glow with ruby lustre on its throat,
gleaming in the sunshine like gems of living fire. From the tip of the
bill to that of the tail, it measures about three and a half inches.
The upper part of the neck, the back, and the wing-coverts, are of a
resplendent and varied green and gold. The breast and lower parts are
white, the wings purplish brown, and the tail partly of the same color,
with the two middle tail-feathers of vivid green.
In the warm climate of the Southern States, the beautiful little
ruby-throat is found throughout the winter; and as the summer draws
on, the heat in the Northern States and Canada suiting its delicate
constitution, it migrates in large numbers, appearing in Canada towards
the end of June. The long flights of these tiny creatures are performed
at night, it is supposed, as they are found feeding leisurely at all
times of the day. When passing through the air they move at a rapid
rate, in long undulations, now rising for some distance at an angle of
about forty degrees, then falling in a curve.
Small as they are, from their rapid flight and meteor-like movements,
they do not fear the largest birds of prey; for even should the lordly
eagle venture into their domains, the tiny creature will attack him
without fear; and one has been seen perched on the head of an eagle,
at which it was pecking away furiously, scattering the feathers of
the huge bird, who flew screaming through the air with alarm, to rid
himself of his tiny assailant.
Brave and high-spirited as is the little bird, it is easily tamed; and
Mr. Webber, the naturalist, succeeded in securing several specimens.
The first he caught did not flutter, or make the least attempt to
escape, but remained quietly in his hand; and he saw, when he opened
it, the minute creature lying on his palm, perfectly motionless,
feigning most skilfully to be dead. As he watched it with breathless
curiosity, he saw it slowly open its bright little eyes to see whether
the way was clear, and then close them slowly as it caught his glance
upon it. When a mixture of sugar, water, and honey, was brought, and a
drop placed on its bill, it came very suddenly to life, and in a moment
was on its legs, drinking with eager gusto of the refreshing draught
from a silver teaspoon.
The nest of the ruby-throat is of a most delicate nature, the external
parts being formed of bits of a little grey lichen, found on the
branches of trees, glued together by the saliva of the bird. Bits of
lichen are also neatly arranged round the whole of the nest, and to
some distance from the spot where the nest is attached to the tree.
The interior is formed of a cottony substance, and is lined with silky
fibres obtained from various plants.
The difficulty of finding the little nests of the humming-birds is
increased by a curious habit possessed by some of the species. When
they leave or approach their home, they do so as if conscious that
by the bright gleam of their plumage they may give an indication of
the place of their nest. Rising perpendicularly until they are out of
sight, and then flying to the point under which their nest is placed,
they drop down upon it as perpendicularly as they ascended.
The eggs are only two in number, and although somewhat larger than
might be imagined from the size of the bird, are very small indeed.
They are of a delicate, slightly pink, semi-transparent, white color,
and have been well compared to pearls.
Could you cast a momentary glance on the nest of a humming-bird, and
see, as I have seen, the newly hatched pair of young, not much larger
than humble-bees, naked, blind, and so feeble as scarcely to be able to
raise their little bills to receive food from their parents, and could
you see those parents full of anxiety and fear, passing and repassing
within a few inches of your face, alighting on a twig not more than
a yard from you, and waiting the result of your unwelcome visit in a
state of despair--you could not fail to be interested in such a display
of parental affection. Then how pleasing it is, on leaving the spot, to
see the returning joy of the parents, when, after examining the nest,
they find their nurslings untouched!
_Word Exercise._
meteor (_mē´te-ur_)
draught (_draft_)
feigning (_fān´ing_)
lichen (_lī´ken_, or _lĭch´en_)
coverts (_kŭv´erts_)
mī´grates
specimen (_spĕs´e-mĕn_)
in´ter-est-ed
as-sail´ant
do-mains´
un-du-lā´tion
dĕl´i-cate
re-splĕn´dent