The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-05
ROUTEDBY HUMMISG BIRDS
NOW TIE LITTLE FEATHERED
FURIEs RESENT INTRUSION.
RHyrinds or Them Make u WARM FOR a stranger
Whs Hgnsrnntly ventured where INDIAN
Hnbersrs Refused 70 Expese Thcuseives.
Nom the Indianapolis journal.

1t was during tho writer's stay III Guntemnla
that the circumstance occurred which forms
tho subject OF this sketch. Wandering one day
along the banks of the beautiful Rio Dulce. I
arrived nj IL point where the dense tropical
growth crowded down to the waters edge, bar.
ring further progress in that direction. The
footpath here turned to the right, and was soon
lost in the deep gloom of the forest. CuTiousto
know where the trail might lead 1 followed
for some distance Though the jungle. which
closed above like tho nrched roof OF q tun-
mel. The trees were ovcrRrown with vines and
creeperr, which fell in folds like a vast green
curtain that swayed gently in the breeze. So
closely woven was this verdant mantle. that
one could see but a few feet In any direction.
From the bosky depths came n medley OF strange
tones. as though discussing some weighty sub
ject pertaining to the family or state. Occa.
mScaws echoed through tho Solitudo, while frem
the .remoter distance came the unInistakablo
@9Sr o.. 'q After T'% a walk RS OF hair a mile mile or 81 such q
matter, the path came to an end at the edge oia
l siTs b SlSSninT p;ln an ThiSh or d! %%SlE," as an tS Ss' Ss:
tives term 1t. The stalks grew TO a height OF
%sStins O Sr tSSSaa'EF or lSss lpnS sh SrHsS venues lSnHSs
between tho rows. The, effect was charming.
through. Illuminating u BIZ. OF, messy ground
whore the dew still sparkled, although II was
Finding a convenient log ! sat down to rest
and enjoy the novel scene, but the oprortunity
sea seated when my attention, was attracted By q
strange sound low but distinct. like he buzHinR
f St d Il Srish I'T Ss Hf rq PASSED pi Seforo An my 5n' sy9".
followed in a second by another, this time
sSG se sIcao * sEEas = l 'p dSiead 'i in2S,u 7SFsfI9:
MEANWHILE the quaint hnmming sound increased
sand spindle Sin in a z great factory. The air t irem,.
6led With the beating Eating of MYRIAD wings and
e eToEf anss" OF the hy i ERsek e %es t u a&enef tb Sy ' seo G,eso
to my excited imag nation, Ike SO many golden
SfFSw Snd S'm tSsro AZ WITH NIX aI fSc sai hGSai ' OF ih S" "a
Cnwittingly l had invaded n colony OF NUM-
M mitRs ali TIf tbe a &do OF tSei Eef impeiuo 1ms mai ah turesi
TIC say ! was surprised by this sudden on
s sl%T : handy ana p iaDsS'' %iso ting rh bfiSRliG e it. % a Sra az
monster like myself, TO be set upon by a scolding
BIRD, T wife , ] would ~ not Ion endure IT. So T. hhGstti y
the fray, beating the air wildly. like n boy fight
Ing bnm6le6ees In z northern hnytGld; but this
came on with redoublcd fury, in twoS and threcs
H inson SSgES; Sri f Y aITEe eWl b. at 4 r My t GSsb, with 18th
main column was driven back. now my right
and now my left flank was charged. while a do
tachment fell on my rear. routing my reserves,
whistling through The air like darts and kissing
their contempt in my ears, which stnng, not alto.
from the blows of their Tiny wings and the
little army was reinforced every moment.
Verify: more JEALOUS patriots never took up
arms In the defence OF homo, and family. They
withdrew for q brief space. but 1t was only to
marshal their forces for a grand charge. Now
they came with a wild, rush, their uniforms of
gold and scarlet glistening in the sunlight, each
little soldier Ikea winged gem, but there was
little time to admire the elegance Of their cos
tunes. Their sharpened lances CLEANED fit
fully in a moment they v ere upon me, again I
made a pretcnce of defence. wildly, fiourshinG
direotionNbut these frantic Efforts were ali
in vain. On they came. from all sides at onceI
They y"t swept everything before them veiNSe evSr
was beleaguered city, more completely at tho
i fnoSyn OF to ane e6 Sns"d doughty %et tSoa is E S ai%inygt qR,
champions OF liberty. They drove Mt my eyes
check. a vicious cut on ono lip, followed by a
savage thrust on my neck. tried to retreat in
down my weapons and fled. leaving the field in
the hands of the foe. 1t was humiliating. but
from a purely utiiitarian point of view it was .
| was told afterwerd by the owner Of the
cut" the Indians positively refusing to expose
their bare limbs to the fury of the fiery little
ence in such numbers was accounted for BY The
proximity Of grove Of wild orange trees. as they
been known to investigate tho iruit itself when
fully matured. So deeply interested did become
that l determined to pay another visit to tho
orchard, but taking care not to approach too
closely.
Accordingly. the very next day, equipped with
a hammock and light umbrella. took my way
Of the habits Of my intrepid assailants-from a
safe distance. Advancing cautiously, swung
the spreading branches Of a towering i"e..
m S1 tree just ,SiU5 At the Retc edge ins Of the greHc:;
without exciting suspicion. However Tho
war spirit still ran high, and q Eew lively
the hostile feeling soon subsidized. and after =
few hours it seemed. fully understood that my
mission was el!Ogether peaceful, and before Inc
feet, exhibiting an amusing degree of curiosity
watching Il them mt through haif.ciose HY eyes. S"'''
1t soon became apparent that honey forms bus
main ueDenUenCe. flies and Rmnll winged
beetles especially are eagerly pursued. and with
at sEe eGss sy i sfnGie d , ksss S SFiIiinmf little l S4es, sn9s
by the hour, returning to my post Of obscrvn.
t tsGn eV fhey mS eame to lor r ssySTIi @ a&ys da, IIRdS SIsjtI
with something like pleasure; perhaps 1t was
frieSnd hIyH tone Put IN the 1 n ! c6 SGHlS Wit aGt SbieR {
they greeted my arrival. 1t was a never
f fnifi' mo, ioSsG as t Gd in fitsed from to mote Sow tesl to- sGSGsr
or dashed away in pursuit OF some winged in
t ipg' srcoI Ths sound .hn hr Of Their M.v wings was Sooth;
orchards Of the North, when the air is filed
Sam t Of S SdoT 9 3si apple se, 6I9s $50 IA and ID the drGwsy
man wish he were a bird or a Doe. or even one
Of those big brown beetles. privileged TO roam
among the thick. clustering flowers overhead.
or the four hundred or more varieties of the
TePssl p afsby my thr 9Stlse .S al , tSiS PiSSsntGe , MI,
tailed end sometinEs as "hre,teilcd, " on 40
named was evidently a visitor. as only one was
during, a brief shower on a twig within six
formed. Is confned almost exclusively to tho
regions drained, by the upper Amazon and its
tributaries. and IL rarely observed north Of
Venezuela. The plumage of tho males 10
brilliant beyond description. quito ~sclipsing that
Of the famed bird of paradise. The feathers.
scales. each ono having a number of distinct
shades, which are exposed in turn with tho
varying motions of the bird. The effect is mar
yellous' seeming to the cursory observer to
sumo Il mantle OF Furnished gold. and while you
exGiaim How beautiful II has changed to a
dull copper bronze, or emerald, scarlet, orange
or blue; In tact, every color OF the rainbow
seems to play over their delicate bodies.
one following another with such rapidly thaS
the observer is utterly bcwildered by the effort
TO note and record the ever shifting tints. Now
II hOyers, mOtionlesS, almost within your reach,
its wings invisible, except rs a silvery mist that
surrounds 1t like a halo; while You gaze. lost In
ndmirAtiOn. li II is gonel Ono ia RlmoHL randy