Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-29
zrnEinE BfrdA

These are the smallest of the feather.
ed tribes, some of them being no larger
than insects; their brilliant colOrs and
quick flashing movements have pr0cur-
ed them the name of ''living gems
There are over seventy different kinds
Of LUmming birds, and these are all 10
be found in North and South America
and the West Indies. The bar-talled
humming bird is one of the most beau
tiful varieties. IL is distinguished by
having its long forked tail regularly
marked with black bars, each side OF
tie tail being formed of five feathers OF
different lengths, so that the lower one
is much the longest, and the end OF
each feather is tipped with black, pro-
ducing, in contrast with the brilliant
color of the body, a very beautiful ef-
feet.
The wings IN all the species are very
long and narrow, and they are, 10y
means of the rapid motion given TO
them. able to balance themselves in the
air. lowering around towering shrubs
and plants, drawing their honey, and at
the same time emitting a humming
noise caused by the movement OF their
wings; whence their name "hummlng
biriSm
They do not sing, with the excep-
tion of species found IN the West In
dies, which is said to have very sweet
note. This variety is little more than
two inches long, and looks exactly like
a bumble-bee when darthng about IN the
air.
This little bird lives almost entirely
on the wing. The long, sharp, sword
shaped wings, with their firmly-set
feathers, the pointed head and the
whole shape Of the body, inform us
that the creature is intended TO spend
much time on the wing and to cut rap
idly through the air. Another pecu-
Iarity of the humming-bIrd is the bril-
hancy of its delicate plumage. The
one kind seen in the United States is a
rich golden green on the upper parts;
but this seems to change In the sun To
all the cOlOrs of the rainbow. Each
breath that he draws causes every
imaginable color to flash from every
fe. theT and fiber, until the little bird
appears TO be bathed in resplendent liv-
ing light" 4 collection Of stuffed
humming birds is very beautiful
sight. but their plumage has lost the
brilliant glow and chaugeful hues that
ID had in life This bird is usually rep
resented in pictures lowering over some
trumpet-shaped flower, with his long
bill Just entering it in quest of honey,
for he is almost as dependent on these
sweet Juices for his food as the bee IS.
But there is a difference IN their ways
E Tho hnnonNrnn
buds tongue, Ike that of the bee, is
very long and narrow, and 10y sudden
motion like a spring II can I've darted
out of the bill TO a great length. The
bee is provided with kind OF brush at
the end of its organ, by which il fairly
sweeps out the hOney-juce from the IN
side. % the flower; but the humming
bird has a pair Of spoons instead. and
scoops out his juices or SeIZeS small in
stcis of which he is very fond. Spiders
are the best of delicacIes to these ''liv-
ing gems" They have been seen TAX
ing small ores out Of their webs and
devouTlng them. They do not disdain
flies and other insects when spiders are
not u be had, but will not touch them
if offered with their fayOTite food. The
humming bird is hard to catch its mo-
tiOus are so quick and its flight So rapid
but il may sometimes be taken in net
ike a butterfly. When fairly caught
and all chance Of escape cut of, the lit
tie creature has been known to stretch
itself out mOtiOnless and counterfeit
death so thoroughly that its captOr
would free it only to see it spread its
wings and shoot like a rocket skyward.
The nest Of this tiny bird is a perfect
marvel of smallneSs and workmanship.
1t is made of cotton, wool and twlgs in
terwoyen with feathers and lined with
down. The nest is about the size of a
thimble, and quite invisible at dis
tance. When the nest is finished two
tiny eggs of a plnkish white, that look
like pearls, are deposited in it.
The hummmg bird Is one Of the most
beautiful and interesting of birds, but,
sad TO relate, ii Is a perfect little fury.
Il fights with its friends and relatives,
and fearlessly attacks the largest and
most feroci0us of its enemies. Even
the formidable eagle is made to feel its
power, and II is strange indeed to see
ANYTHING so tiny measuring its strength
against the monarch of the air. Other
and much larger birds go in pairs
against this formidable foe; but the lit
tie humming bird starts off singly in the
most confident manner, trusting To its
very insIgnificdnce. and always manages
to come oil victorious, too.
Hummiug birds are one of the many
instances of the great Creators wisdom
for if they are small, they are brave and
able to defend themselves. Though
not able to feed as other birds do, they
can sip honey from every flower.