File:Stories about birds of land and water (1874) (14564151520).jpg

Identifier: storiesaboutbird00kirb (find matches)
Title: Stories about birds of land and water
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Kirby, Mary, 1817-1893 Kirby, Elizabeth, 1823-1873
Subjects: Birds -- Juvenile literature
Publisher: Hartford (Conn.) : American Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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r a longer time than you would believe. And he can poise himself in theair as the insects do, and keep up a kind of quick vibration with his wings.His movements arc so quick that his lovely wings can hardly be perceivedunless the sun flashes upon them. In the tropical garden, full as it is of allkinds of splendid flowers, he is seen in perfection, and there are crowds ofbrilliant humming-birds darting about in gold and purple and crimson. They are extremely passionate, and if the flower disappoints them in thequantity of insects or nectar it contains, they will tear it to pieces. And theyare very brave, and will fight desperately in defence of their nest and theiryoung ones. Tlieir nest is the most exquisite little fabric you can imagine. It is sosmall and fairy-like that it is often hung to a leaf, or to the end of a twig. THE HUMMING-BIRD. 69 Often it is made of thistle-down, or of lichens, with cotton and woolinside. Two tiny white eggs are laid in it, which by-and-by become little
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THE SICKLE-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD. humming-birds. At first they arc without any feathers, and are more likebluebottle flies than anything else. There is a huge spider in that part of the world as big or bigger thanthe hummin;-bird himself. 70 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS, He makes a great strong net in which the brilliant little creature is oftencaught. And what is almost worse, he comes with his hideous long legs

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