Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-06-17
Sg(onth's Column.
THE HUMMING-BIRD.

ing, and many of them will soon wend
their way to the country, where they can
watch for themselves,-to call their at
tention to some of Gods creations, in the
shape of the little birds. And among
all the feathered tribe which are found
in the United States. none possess
greater interest than the humming- bird.
There are seventy kinds of these birds,
nearly all of them natives of America,
where it is we'll known, as it frequents
the gardens and sips the honeysuckle
and other flowers, as the bee for its hive.
Who has not seen them buzzing about
the flowers Their flight is 50 swift as
almost to elude the sight, and their wings
when balancing over flower produce
humming sound, which gives rise to its
name.
The first notice that we have of the
arrival of this little gem is the familiar
humming of its wings. and, now and
then, CHEEKY chirp, and as we follow
the sound we find our little stranger
thrusting his bill and head into the flow
ers, often busily watching for the small
insects that inhabit them and which
comprise the greater part of his food.
This bird is the smallest of the feather
ed race, and is one of the most beautiful
in the elegance of its form and the glossy
brilliancy of its delicate plumage. Small
as it is, however, it is exceedingly cour-
ageous, and shows oftentimes good deal
of passion. If it finds that flower has
been deprived of its honey, it will pluck
it of, throw it on the ground, and some
times tear it in pieces; and it often
fights with desperate fury, which is
astonishing in creature of such dimin-
utive size.
Do you know how humming- birds are
caught? You will think it very strange
way, but it is really so. 1t is by blow
ing water on them from tube, or shoot
ing at them with sand; and yet they
will often allow person to come within
a couple of yards of them before they
; will take their fight.
The length of this bird is but three
inches, and its color usually rich gold
en- green on the upper part, with gor-
geous ruby-colored throat and very
bright black eyes
AS they alight upon twig, you will
see them busy in the arrangement Of
, their feathers, and in clearing from them
any drops of dew that may have fallen
upon them from the flowers they have
visited, uttering as they are thus employ.
ed their merry chirp. They are very
tenacious of their mates woe to any
other humming- bird that may come il
sight; they are in very truth little low
ers, and it is amusing to see them appar
7 emily discussing with much earnestnes'
(; their plans for housekeeping. Should
f another male bird intrude upon tn,
8 premises. there follows inevitably ;
e pitched battle. They mount high in thu
e air and rush against each other, striking
a their bills together, until they 60 far on
b of sight. After a while the hero return
It to his mate and struts about her. appar
e emily seeking for her commentator
e She seems to approve it by her gestures
n and after waiting patiently for him t
IS arrange his feathers, they 60 off togethe
J. to some new experience.
e The nest of this little bird is built Oh
is the uppor side of the branch of tree
e Instances have been known of thel
1T building on some old moss grown trunk
d or even on strong weed in the garden
d This nest is only about an inch in diam
s. eter and an inch in depth, formed {
t. gossamers and the downy substance frol
v the mullen. 1t is covered with MOSES
v which are glued on with saliva of tn
is bird, and is so like knot in the bong
a. that it is often difficult to find it. I'll
ii inside of the nest is lined with SON
l. downy substance, or soft MOSES. Abol
D. the first of June they commence to bull,
lg The female lays two eggs, which are
On a pure white color. If any one approach
e. es the nest after the laying of the egg
the little creatures dart around, with
:. humming sound, frequently passing wit
" in few inches of persons head, ma
- ing a note which is single chirp, n
- louder than that of cricket or gras
90 hopper. | have heard of these lit
- birds being kept in confinement and fl
:. upon sweetened water, supposing tn
90 honey was their natural food, and tn
:. have died, because insects and not hon
w. are their dependence.
:, The humming- bird is general fave
M its. Its fight from flower to to flow
VI very much resembles the bee, but is mo
10y rapid. 1t is pretty sight to see it poi
i"i itself in the air, moving its wings SO
y to look like thin and golden mist, VIII
us it thrusts its long and slender bill il
al the flowers in search of food. Th
lei sometimes even venture into the par
'"s in the country, examining the flowers
a. the mantel, and pass out again.
eii About the first of September tn