The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-20

1 could see. toward a thick piece OF WOODS
mile or so distant. one afternoon l 10Y
lowed the course OF the hunming oira 70
the SPOT where the bird disappeared from
view, and waited there TO see If the little
creature would pass that way on anotnsr
flight. intending 10 line the bird 10 It's nome
the bee hunter does the Wild Dee w nat
course it took back 10 my garden don,
know, but III few minutes either this nHd
or her mate passed WhSre / sat, nnfIihlihS
its way homeward 1t was only mo-
ing, as IL did, like ray OF light, but enough
to see that It went on as straight as a nee
line. | followed to the second point OF the
bird y disappearance. waited AGAIN, ana
once more. after another visit | suppose,
10 my garden, it passed and kept Oh toward
the woods This time. oeing on the watch,
| saw The wee bird as 81 approached ana
was able 10 keep Il in the Inc OF vision
longer than mad before. After four re-
lays OF watching III this way the nummlhS
bird led me 10 a chImp of dogwood Trees.
where 1t disappeared.
'sSa tisiied that the cumming birds nest
was In that clump Of trees somewhere,
hogan 10 search for it, but don't believe /
would have found IL nut fer a DIuelay ny
ing iHto one of the trees and lighting ON
branch. The jay had scarcely percne7i on
the limb when | saw something Dart To-
ward him, and as the big bird hoped ana
fiuttercd about. evidently reluctant 10 leave
the spot, | saw that he was neing fieice3y
asSaiied by the female humming bird The
little thing hummed like buzz saw, DART
fron every side striking him with her
long needie-lik@ bill while he Screechcd and
jumped about. bat was utterly unaD.e 70
parry blow of his radiant but furious roe.
Presently the male hummlng BIRD appeared
and joined his mate in the attack on the
intrudiug b.uejay. which was soon glad 10
take himself OF. followed 10y the pugnac4-
Gus little fairies until he went screechlns
out Of sight
The hummng birds returned 10 the tree
and instead Of inySter.otgsiy disappearing
in the foliage lowered about particular
500: on a twisted and gnarled branch. and
there. as the female at last settled down.
! discovered the fairy nome OF these TWO
little syiphs beneath canopy OF ofeFhsng-
ing leaves The fehale nestled down coz.
iy in the tiny cup. which was 50 soft and
elastic that even her delicate puInes were
unruffled by contact with its moss-coVered
edges. Far a long time the male snuSgled
down close beside his mate and then poised
himself a III 1IDeng on his wnirr.ag WIRES
above the nest and disappeared then
stepped from my hiding place IN the
bushes. The bird on the nest did not move.
Not until had climbed the tree and beat
over The nest did she seem 10 realize that
she was discovered.
Then sh. rose and buzzed and hummsd
about me with b belliGegent intent as she
had dayted about the jay. | remained Only
long enough TO see that NO OF the Duie~1
Of Tiny eggs were N the nest. and jhen de-
seconded aa3 went away visited jHe dog
wood copse daily after that, and after
few days my presence ceased Ia disturb
Went as II | 9ere not there. learned that
The male relieved his mate al intervals
snd that hulnu!ng birds carry on fierce
daily warfare aCalns, other members OF
the featAerei tribe that come anywhere
near their nesting qlaees attacking the
n.g, Tapping crow with the same fearless
ness they 90 n susTr0w and driving aim
away ppare atty as easily
In time Two lttle nestllugs appeared IN
this nest Of mlDe-tse oldest looking little
things, oot bigger than a Tee one dag
after the young ones Mere old enough q
fly. ! went 20 tire nest. Il Ras deserted
ans the birds came back no more that
season. { then took the nest apart and
found mat Il was a most delicate piece of
Workmanship Sott. silky pufEs made
from the blossoms Of the oak ard chest
NAT and bls u Satiuy gray moss and dark
brown fungus az a kind tiat must gTog
~ secret places known orSy 10 tbs nectar
fg3 fairies. S*re woven sgt0 IKE walls ~
tae nest which wsre as soft as 33N0 and
q pl.ahla as india ruboer TIE outer COW
eTiag % The nest WAS formed % the min
Gt#St flakes - ltchen amt bark. laia On ar
iist,cAliy aa1 substantially N Layers ike
shingles on a roof ! have seen many hum
ming birds nests stnce and found taas
whatever he prevailing 6ue II the
branches on ~G.cn Ihey wers blliS IN gfst
be the covering % the tiny cups was uia3a
- Ire sssrne hare"
\ gentleyaan's drink Is Ire famous osa
Jesse Moore IA wliskey. Sold every