The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-03
EEsc Y5uruEuing-Tsirti.

j am particularly ble.scu WIN huh'ihlhS
birds. | can hardly look out Of window
on any side Of the house; morning or eve
ming that do not see one or more OF them
c00uctting with flowers. Of all the hun
drcds OF humming- birds described BY
Gould-and Professor Agassiz Informs lie
that in South America there are literally
thousands Of Spccics-wc have but Il single
spccies-thc ruby-throat. This tiny creature
is hardly substantial enough to lie the
shadow Of n plump robin. But it is q bird
Of great spirit and Of singular power. That
vibration OF wing By which 1t is enabled to
hang suspended at tie mouth Of flower 50
still that the eye cannot detect Il motion
must require extraordinary power. Ii does
not seem to fly, but to glance off from one
spot to another. II is more like fash
Of light than vcrtablc piece Of wing
travel Tile BEETLES of the humming-
birds are worthy 10 be described By
Homer. Battles! Yes. L is fcrcc and
pugnacious little beauty. This may easily
and frequently be observed ut ihc pairing
time, during the last week Of May or early
June. When an accepted lover sees some
ray Lothario approaching his matrimonial
bower lie darts at him with such whirling
fury that midgcs must think il a battle of
eagles. Whether they drive their sharp
Little bills ut each other, no mortal eye can
discern. But they dash upon and bcay each
other with their pretty wings like c'naac4
fairy warriors. OF course the iHtcrlopcr,
not having the moral support Of IN a4-
proving conscience, is defeated. lie must
be Il poor iulnmin@-bird that could not
whip twice lis weight Of hummiDg-birds
when his darling love sits just behind him
ready to take lis rival should her husband
fail III the coaiiict Of pcrilous love. Dnt Il
The dear ruby-throat comes of conQucror,
his mate is more proud OF him than ever,
and their caicsscS are sweet and nimIle 10
al amusing degree.
It IS generally supposed that humming-
birds feed upon the honey OF flowers.
Doubtless they 90 in part. Hut they arc
not quite 50 ethereal as to live upon that
who'll Or chiefly. Without ncEcc!in@ the
honey, they feed mainly upon the insect
which resort 10 flowers for the honey.
IIoncy and meat make Il very good hunt
ming-bird dict.
Their long, needlc-iikc ill is admirably
fitted to probe tie tubes Of tie hCncrsuci;io
and the dcar-sea!ci cells Of other lowers.
There is regular division Of the different
iccdnm-~ruunds among birds. The robin
does not forage on the hunting grounds q
the iiy-c&tchcrs. These do not nc'Iilc vita
the sphere CT swallows, etc.
IhruShcs. H!ucEbird5, grackle+, boh0-
links, meadow l&rks, and such like. :'ni
their food chiefly upon tie ground. gguos
of lgcusts and beetles. The beetles them
selves, gra-$hopp@rS. crickets, the Larvae III
sccls. together with carth-w0"mS, cut
worms, catcrpillars, &c. Noodpcckcrs TOM
tits, nut-latchcs, take charge o. The trunks
and branches Of the trees. and End their
food in crcyiccs o. the bark and Ill holes
Still another class Of birds, such rs syl-
vans and i!y-catChCrs, hover about the 10
liawc Of trees, and catch the flying insects
which abound there. But in the great AIR
above all. swallows, martins, wLippoor-
wills. night hawks, &C., pursue their insect
food. StiIl other Kinds divide OF TO them
selves some sTamps, some the sands Of
thc shore. and some Inc waters q lakes and
seas.
In this great winged army which lahols
al summer TO subdrc the myriad host 81
insect cncmica-and who maintain their
place in creation by the scmi-omnipotcncc
Of fccundity-hclongs the hummin--bIrd.
He finds lis meat awaiting him III the lap
of beauty. lie goes 10 market in honey
suchlcs, and Gnd, his fragrant silamblcs in
the glowing and pcrfumcd tubes and bells
of glowing flowers. He has no song. Iii,
note is Ike the squeak Of mouse. or The
metallic gra!ings Of some kinds Of beetles.
% what use the briIliancr Of his plumage
is ! cannot imagine. The focus Of color i
under his bill. where he casno, see it him
self. and lie flies so swiftly |'that 10 one else
can see II.
Although this brilliant little bird attacks
and drives nj common birds with the great
est case. yet Audubon states thar it is itself
sometimes chased by humblc-boos-Which
all good boys pronounce bWuhlc-bc@a--l!
though the hUuming-bri pays no #ttcD
ton 10 the pursucr, bur goes about its busi-
ness without aeigniu. 10 notice it. On tni-
account. 40 doubt, the conccitci Ice ina
mincs that no lunming-hIri dare give him
battle, / have seen bumb!e-hc2s chasing
humninr-jirttS in other spheres of life. \
gay and charming creature. just seventeen,
seems to arouse certain rragmatic&i and
stupid oil! gentlemen 10 extraordinary CT
forts. Everybody laughs. It is rare sport
for her, and rare sport for the knowing
company. And yet sometimes rich Old
fellow Of fifty captures his prey. An owl
married to 4 7ong-sparrow \ beetle and
Il glow-worm! i bumblc-bce and q hum
ming-bird!
Such misalliances furnish Us n funeral
and 4 wedding in onc.-Nelc York Lcdyer.
\ young lady who was fer the first time
.-..l LII L., L..