Evening star., 1946-06-22
This and That
By Charles E. Trdce1Uell.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE.

NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE.
Dear Sir:
Il was surprised the other day to
note hummingbirds this far down in
the city. I hope you will tell us some
thing about them. Is it usual for them
to be in the city? I think they have
nest somewhere close, but not where l
can see it. Does the female have the
patch Of red on the neck?
Sincerely, J. D."
HummingbirdS are regarded by orni-
biologists as among the most remark
able of all birds. Not only are they
brilliantly colored, but they neither eat
nor fly as other birds. They cannot
walk on the ground, but can perch.
The tongue is hollow and is stuck
out Of the long bill into the flowers,
taking both nectar and minute insects.
The bird has the ability, almost
alone among birds, of practically stand
ing still in the air while feeding. the
wings making about 1000 strokes a
minute.
This reduces them to a haze to the
human eye. There is form of a
moth which much resembles the female
hummingbird of this area, that is. it is
green, without the red.
The ruby -throated hummer is the
only species to come here. but there
are scores of species in the Far South.
in Central and South America.
Hummingbirds hum" when their
wings are tapped so fast, but the male
also makes a sort of grating sound in
flight, said to be produced by some
popularity of wing structure.
Hummingbirds are responsible for
much fertilization of flowers, just as
the bees are
1t is not at all unusual for them to be
IN cities. There seems to be something
about city life which they like There
have been many instances of them
oulldlng nests atop light bulbs in busy
streets
They come freely to almost any city
garden where bell-shaped flowers are
grown. Many of the vines, including
the trumpet vine, attract them.
Petunias of any color are favorites
They will spend hours at window boxes,
not mlndlng in the least persons who
happen to be just inside.
The ruby-throated, our particular
species, comes all the way to us from
Mexico and Panama and points to the
northward.
1t arrives early in May and remains
through most of the summer.
The nest is a beautiful cup, not much
larger than a good-sized walnut, made
OF down and covered with moss.
- 'InIs is done so finely that the nest is
mostly invisible, even when the OBJ
server happens to be squarely in front
OF it. Spider webbing is used o-hitch
1T to the branch and in this way it ap-
pears to the human eye to be nothing
more than protuberance on the limb.
Usually two white eggs are laid.
Ihe baby hummer is just about the
size of the tip of your little finger, if
you can imagine it, and few can who
have not seen it.
The babies are fed on repurpitated
insects, thus getting plenty of protein
for growth
Hummingbirds often perch on tele-
phone wires. In fact, such wires seem
a favorte resting place of theirs.
This hummer's official size is slightly
over inches.
We believe that there are more ruby
throats in Georgetown than in any
other section of the city.
They will be found, however. almost
any place where the bell-shaped flow
ers are grown
The gladiolus, in particular, is a
great favorite, and especially the named
varieties in shades of red. Among the
many good points of these exquisite
flowers is their attraction for the hum
mers.