Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-10
"A RUNNING BIRDS NEST.
.he Delicate and Artistic A'tI'e
Home IF the Bird.
.rn,n ths Ye,o York sun.

HONFsDALE, Ia, Sept. 81 don't
.unpose there ar. many people in this
country who never ssw hummlng Dlrd,"
said a local naturalist; but If the ques-
rion. Did you ever see humming BIRDS
nestY was on the census-taker's list, he
would receive NO for an answer from
at least $3.50 out Of every 10000 of the
population. Any rural urchin, II he is
genuine boy, can tell you where you may
find the nest of every bird in his neigh
borhood, from the hawks down TO the
chippy's-except the humning birds.
And vet this mite of the air is commoner
than many other species OF bird whose
nests the urchin can take you to.
ga humming birds nest is a sight
worth going a good ways to see, and yet
YOU needn't go far to see one II you can
only ind it. was a collector of birds
for wears before | ever saw one OF these
nests. Every year there was scarcely
minute in the day during the summer
thai bumming birds couldn't be seen suck
ing the nectar from the honeysuckle, hol-
Ivhock. lilies, or other flowers in my gar
den. vet had no idea whatever where
thew nested and brought forth their
voung, | noticed one summer that f1ne
specimen of the ruby-throat, after hover
inc about nv flowers for a few moments,
invariably flahsed away in one direction,
following straight line, as far as could
see him, toward thick piece OF WOODS
mile or SO away. One afternoon followed
his course to the spot where he dlsap-
peared from view and waited there to see
If ne would pass on another flight, in
tending to line him to his home as the bee
hunter does the wild bee. What course
ne took back to the flower garden | do
not know, butIn a few minutes he passed
where sav, humming on his way again
hOmeward. 1t was only q momentary
glimpse that l caught of him, passing az
he did like ray OF light, but enough TO
see that he went ON as straight as bee
line. | followed to the second point OF
disappearance, waited again, and once
more, after another visit to the garden, ne
passed me and kept on toward the woods.
This time, beng on the watch, l saw the
wee bird as be approached, and was able
to keep him in my eye longer than l bad
before. After four relays of watching
in this way, the humming bird led me 10
a clump of dOgWood trees, where he dis
appeared.
satisfied that his nest was somewhere
in the trees, approached them cautious
ly, but although | saw the bird, and once
his mate, go and come every few minutes
out of one OF the trees, | could not dis
cover the spot they made their home. /
don't believe | would have found the nest
at all, if it hadn't been that a blue jay
flew in among the trees and lit on a
branch of the tree in which the humming
birds lived. The jay had scarcely
perched on the limb, when, like shot, l
saw something dart toward him, and as
. tnh Ill I'd A. ~ hnI
evidently reluctant to leave the spot,
saw that he was being tiercely assailed by
the female humming bird. The little
thing hummed liked buzz saw, and
darted upon the jay bird from below,
above, and from every side. striking him
with her long, needle.like bill, while he
screeched and jumped about, but was Ut
terly unable to parry blow of his radi-
ant but furious assaIlant. Presently the
male humming bird returned, and quick
ly joined in the attack on the intruding
Jay bird, who was soon glad to take him.
self off. followed by the pugnacious little
fairies, until he went screeching out OF
sight.
'The humming birds returned to the
tree, and, instead of mysteriouslY disap-
pesring in the foliage as before, lowered
about particular spot ON gnaried and
twisted branch OF the dogwood, and
there, as the female finally settled down,
discovered the fairy home OF these two
little sylphs beneath a canopy OF over
hanging leaves. The female nestled down
costly in the tiny cup, which was so soft
and elastic that even her delicate
plumage was unruffled by contact with
It's m0ss-oovered edges.
From my hiding place-for had hid
den in the bushes at the first attack of the
humming bird on the jay-the nest was
but few feet distant, and | could see its
character, but could not tell of what 1t
was constructed. One thing
did notice, and shat was that it was Gun.
ningly fashioned to so harmonic with
the bark Of the tree as to conceal 1t from
the closest observer. Often in my visits
10 the nest atterward, and knowing its To-
cation so well, L was unable to discover il
except after minute or more of close OBJ
servatiOn.
FOR short time after, the two little
birds returned to their nest. after driving
away the jay-which, by the way, was an
eAhloltion OF bravery and belligerence on
Ine part OF the humming birds for which
was entirely unprepared-the male bird
snuggled down close beside his mate.
poised Itself for moment on its whirring
wings ABOVE the nest, and disappeared. l
men stepped out from my hiding place,
out the bird on the nest did not move,
conscious, perhaps, Of the security of its
Nesting place. Not until had climbed
~ie Tree ana bent over the nest did she
seem 10 realize that she was discovered,
anu tnen she arose and buzzed and
luhmed about me with as belligerent,
intent as she had darted about the Jay
glu' remained only long enough to see
way TWO oil the tiniest eggs were in the
nest, and then descended and went away.
visited the dogwool tree daily after
WAY, and the frail birds gradually became
scustomed to my presence. At first they
we're nervous, and one or the other of them
~Uuu cart down at me, and, hanging
FUSED within yard or so of me, inspect
n'oi WIN heightened curiosity, uttering the
4oa,nIest OF peeps and cries.
IN J nller lew days my presence ceased
az STtsyurb them, and they came and went
MI. 81 l was not there. | learned that the
I%aIe relieved the female at intervals on
o r' d hes,' and that humming birds carry
bbA uaily warfare against any other mem
wSS o VI the teathered tribe that come any
grao, near their nest. attacking the
20 - oig' mapping crow with the same
diyiteeshess as they do a sparrow, and
In ttus nun away apparently as easily.
nis ne TWO little nestlIngs appeared in
neSV OF mlne--tbe oldest looking
| be i"sS' not much bigger than Il humble
| old aug oae Jay, after the young ones were
wos enougn to fly, went to the nest. 1t
/ MOI u,eSefIed, and the birds came back no
| anar, 'nat season. ! then took the nest
| eata ala, VI; ana found that it was a most deli
ppfs preoe VI Workmanship. Soft, silky
and cbos ue rom the blossoms of the oak