. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Anna Hummer Taken near Santa Barbara webs, which the mistress deftly spreads with her needle beak, the while she moulds a hollow with her breast. In this way a noble structure can be balanced accurately and lashed securely to the slenderest twig, though Anna is rather more given to broad foundations than is the Black-chin, say. As like as not the first egg arrives while the nest is only half com- pleted. No matter—the half-done hollow will suff
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Anna Hummer Taken near Santa Barbara webs, which the mistress deftly spreads with her needle beak, the while she moulds a hollow with her breast. In this way a noble structure can be balanced accurately and lashed securely to the slenderest twig, though Anna is rather more given to broad foundations than is the Black-chin, say. As like as not the first egg arrives while the nest is only half com- pleted. No matter—the half-done hollow will suffice for now, and the structure will be pass- ably done by tomorrow, when the next arrival is due—or by the day after at most. As for the decorations, they can be added any time, a bit of moss here and a bit of lichen there, or a feather snatched when the mistress is returning from some foray after insects or morning dews. Your ready-furnished flats are vulgar, anyhow, and it is much more satisfactory to a taste like Anna's to be able to select the adornments of her home with deliber- ation and discriminating care. As to the male bird, he has no part in these festivities. Not only is he forbidden to assist in the building of the home, but he is banished forever from its sacred precincts. So complete is the rupture between these elfin mates, that we do not even know whether the male bird leads henceforth a disconsolate existence, wedded to fond memories, or whether he presently lays siege to other hearts. These are frail children of the sun, and we must not seek to apply our own laborious standards of conduct to them. Dum vivimus vivamus is the Hummer's motto—and what else could you expect of a creature whose blood is always at fever heat (variously estimated at from iii° to 1140 Fahrenheit), and who must forever quench a raging thirst with honey? Careful and extended experiment has shown that a hummingbird may subsist entirely upon sweetened water. It is certain, therefor
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
