The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-29

confined almost exclusively to the regions
drained by the upper Amazon and its tribu--
Venezuela. The plumage OF the males is
brilliant beyond description, quite eclipsing
that Of the famed bird of paradise. The
feathers, which lie very close, are arranged
IN the form of scales each one having a
number of distinct shades which are ex-
posed in turn with the VARYING motions of
the bird. The effect is marvellous, seeming
to the cursory observer to change color be-
lore ones eyes Now they assume mantle
OF FURNISHED gold, and while you exclaim
How beautiful!'' it has changed to a dull
copper bronze, or emerald scarlet, orange
or blue; in fact, every color of the rainbow
seems to play over their delicate bodies.
one following another with such rapidty
tnat the observer is utterly bewildered by
the effort to note and record the ever-shift-
ing tints- Now IL movers, motionless, almost
within your reach, its wings invisible ex-
cept as a silvery mist that surrounds it like
10! 1t is gone! One is almost ready to be-
lieve 1t has dissolved like a wreath of smoke
or burst like bubble, so sudden it's disap-
pearance. So swift is it's passage the eye
cannot follow it, except at long range, with
the SKY for background. Under such cir
Sunlstanees one may note the undulating
me or night that characterizes them when
embarked on long journey. Their power
or endurance is only equaled by their speed,
which is computed by some to exceed two
miles minute. If one of these tiny in
hapitants of the tropics should decide to
VISIT MS northern cousins IN the far Can
adas he would hardly deem it necessary
to announce his intentions to his nearest
nelghbor or waste time saying goodbye, as
the trip would only occupy twelve or fifteen
1t is a fact worthy of note that the largest
and smallest birds of flight belong exclu-
slvely to America-the condor and the hum
ming bird. The former, although able to
sustain its great weight at an elevation ex-
ceeding five thousand feet above the earth,
seldom wanders one thousand miles from
It's native haunts in the heart of the Andes.
The humming bird, on the other hand, be-
ing so small and frail exhibits the most
wonderful endurance, backed by a spirit of
enterprise and reckless daring that takes
him to the remoteSt sections of the CONT
nent, numerous specimens having been OBJ
served as far north as Alaska and as far
south as Patagonia. He scorns political
divisions and knows climatic limit. Al
though his home is in the tropics, he de-
crossing zones in his flight. Now he tar
r1eS in the walled gardens of Brazil, and
heard on the barren coasts of Labrador or
desolate shores of Terre del Fuego. He
claims the continent for his own, and
chirpS defiance in the face of all trespassers
on his domain, whether under soft summer
skies or amid polar SHOWS But wide as his
range on either side of the equator, he
pens that this most interesting of all birds
is confined to the western hemisphere.
Naturally the possession of so vast an
estate tends to encourage aristocratic
spirit. Thus we find the gaudy little war
riors great sticklers for the code, and the
slightest infraction of the laws of honor
fires the hot southern blood in an instant,
so it is not strange that the males should
engage in the most desperate duels, and 1T
is a common occurrence to find one of the
combatants permanently disabled or killed
outright by the skillful thrust of lance
like bill. One such was picked up near liv-
ingston during my visit, which weighed less
than two ounces. Although smaller than
many of the insects which inhabit those
countries, this little creature was found to
possess every organ belonging to the
largest bird, each fully developed, and as
perfectly proportional as those of the eagle
or stork, yet far SURPRISING either in beauty,
swiftness and keenness of vision.
The nest of the hummer is marvel or
skill. showing clearly that the diminutive
builder by his big brothers. 1t is con-
structed mainly of thistle down, the seeds
of the milk weed, dandelion, tufts of will
lows, etc. all woven into silk-like fabric.
The outside is usually covered with nchenS,
carefully arranged to match the bark OF the
limb to which it is attached In this dell
laying two eggs about the size of peas, but
family specked with yellow. Madam is a
most devoted mother and seldom leaves her
charge, excepting for a few minutes in the
dusk of evening early morning. Twelve
or fifteen days suffice to bring out the
brood and it is now that the parent birds
show such fierce and vindictive disposi-
ton toward all intruderS. Woe to any
bird that approaches with evil intent. The
males are a gay and rollicking Set ever
ready for a frOlic or fight, and, regret 10
say, are practical jol1ers of the lowest or
der In this respect they cannot be cited as
models of good behavior. One of their IA
vorite pastimes is to watch till companion
has his head buried in the fragrant depths
of a flower, them approaching swiftly from
the rear, give the unSuSpectlng victim
sharp stab and disappear just as we some--
( times see schoolboys .jab' a fellow-pupil
with a pin at the unfortunate moment OF
STOPPING to pick up book or ball. But we
can readily overlook their small failings in
view of the never-ending fund of amuse-
ment they afford by their beauty and vi
vacity. Indeed, we could readily forgive
much graver faults in this, the bravest and
brightest member of the great family of
American birds. ALBERT MORLAN.