West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-05-01
HUMMINa BIRDS.
Exquisite LATHE Birds Found Only sn the
. American CoatIncnt


American COntlncnt.
The wonderful little hummins- birds
ere only found in America aud the al.
jaccnt islands, where they take tho
place of the Sua-birds of the Old World.
Ii Is rather remarkable that as vet no
humming-birdS have been discovered In
any other continent. The name OF
humming- is given To them on nc
count of the humming and buzzing
sound which they produce with Their
wing especially while they are hover
mg in their curious fashion over
tempting blossom and feeding on its
contents Of nectar and insects. while
suspended in the air. This name is so
appropriate that II holds good in other
languages, and expressive titles have
been given to these birds which are
either descriptive of the sound or an on
deavor TO initiate IT, So characteristic
j. this humming sound that it is not
precisely the same i'm any two species.
and i'm many instances l. so very 30.
cdcd in its tone that practiced and
obScrvant ear can oftcl detect the
species of II huinming bird by the sound
which il produces in its flight
The "black-cappcd' hummng-brd
produces a noise exactly like the whiz-
zing of wheel driven bv machinery.
while that of another species is very
like the droning hum OF a large be-.
lh" number of species of these birls is
truly wonderful, as more than 300 ere
known and have been described, while
new species are being continually dis
covered.
1t Is evident to any ono who has ex-
amined these exquisite little birds,
studied tho in. Nhaustiblc variety of
form and color which thCv exhibit that
many forms are Nc' wanting as links
needed to complete the chain Of species.
and that in all probability there are in
existence humming- bird, which posses
, forms quit strange and colors quite ns
glowing as any of tho3e which have
found place in our collections
The legs of these bird, are remark
ably weak and delicate. and the wing,
are proportionately strong, ccmbnl-
ton which shows that tho creatures are
/ Intended 10 pass more of their time in
the air than on foot. Even when feed
ing thcy very 'ldom trouble them selves
. TO perch, but suspend themselves in the
air before the flower on which they de
sire 10 operate, and which their long,
slender tongues are able 10 feed upon at
ease without alightiug. In the skeleton,
especially IN the shape of the breast
bone and wings. as well IA in the com
parativc small size OF the feet. hum
ming birds bear some analogy TO the
swfls, and like tcse birds. never Law
more than two eggs. The flight of these
birds is incOuceivably rapid so rapid.
indeed, that the eve can not follow the
bird when IL puts forth i'm full speed;
and with such wonderful rapidity do the
little sharp cut wings beat the air that
their form is quite lost aud while the
bird is lowering over a single spot. the
wings look like two iilmy gray fans, at
tached TO the sides. While dart ng from
( one flower TO another the bird can
hardly be seen at all, ami il seems 10
! come suddenly into existence at some
spot and as suddenly to vanish from
sight.
Some hummlng-birds are fond Of tow
cring to great height in the air, and
descending from thence to the + nests or
to feed, while others keep near the
ground, and are seldom seen at an ele-
yation OF many yards The food of the
humming-bird is much the same rs that
OF the hOney-suckers, excCp'. perhaps.
y
fewer flies Still, they are extremely
fond of small insects, and kept away in
captivity from this kind Of diet soon
pine away, in spite of unlimited supply
| OF syrup and other sweet food. The
tongue is Il very curious structure, be-
ing extremely long. iilamentous, and
double nearly to- its base. At the throat
il is taken up by that curious. forked
bony structure called the "hyoid bone"
the forks OF which are enormously
elongated, and passing under the throat
| and round the head, are terminated
upon the forehead. BY means Of this
structure the humming- bird is enabled
to- project and 10 probe the inmost re-.
cesses Of the largest flowers II cut
| transversely the flaments Of the tongue
look as if they have been made Of Hat
horny parchment, and partially rolled
up The sense Of taste or touch. or
both. must be- extremely delicate. Tor
when they are feeding they can not by
any possibility sec into the flowers
which they are rausacking. and are per.
force obliged TO trust implicitly 10 the
tongue. The common woodpecker has
very similar tongue. and employs IL
in very similar manner N y. Times
Democrat