. Birds through the years . he St. Lawrence and Manitoba, and winter in the tropics. Ruby-throated Hummiag Bird. — The wonder-work ofNature has no better example among all our birds than isfound in that delicate, brilliant little creature, the Ruby-throated Humming Bird, the only member of this largefamily found east of the Rocky Mountains, north of tiny birds are found only in America, the fivehundred varieties living for the most part in Mexico,Central and South America. I02 BIRDS THROUGH THE YEAR They are the smallest as well as the most brilliantlyplumaged of birds. While they
. Birds through the years . he St. Lawrence and Manitoba, and winter in the tropics. Ruby-throated Hummiag Bird. — The wonder-work ofNature has no better example among all our birds than isfound in that delicate, brilliant little creature, the Ruby-throated Humming Bird, the only member of this largefamily found east of the Rocky Mountains, north of tiny birds are found only in America, the fivehundred varieties living for the most part in Mexico,Central and South America. I02 BIRDS THROUGH THE YEAR They are the smallest as well as the most brilliantlyplumaged of birds. While they may not have the greatvariety of colors found in other families, the sheen andsparkle of their feathers is not surpassed. So delicate anddainty are they, one does not wonder that, with a few ex-ceptions, they cling to tropical haunts where the cold blastof winter never reaches and flowers bloom throughout theyear. The visit of the Rubythroat is always associated withthe flowers. Sitting in the grateful shade of the porch,. Humming Birds, Male and Female. when the honeysuckle and the morning glories are in bloomand the garden is radiant with summers gayest flowers,the ear is greeted by a dull buzzing sound like that of thebumblebee, but many times louder. Right before youreyes, perhaps within arms length, is a slender, long-billed,little creature, suspended in mid-air by vibrations of thewings so rapid that the eye cannot see them, its green backglittering like an emerald in the sun, its throat ablazewith the fire of the ruby. Poised before a fresh blossom, it thrusts the slender billfar into the calyx, daintily sipping the nectar; anotherblossom and another are quickly probed with a gentle MAY mi(;rants 103 squeak of satisfaction at the delicious sweets gathered;then Hke a flash it is gone, and you ask yourself, Was thisthe visit of a real bird or only a fairy sporting in the sum-mer sunshine? Apparently without fear, they will probe a flower held inthe hand, and even feed up
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1910
