and as the summer draws on, the heat in the Northern States suiting its delicate constitution, it migrates in large numbers, appearing in the Middle States towards the end of April. These tiny creatures pass through the air at a rapid rate, and may be seen moving in long undulations, now rising for some distance at an angle of about forty degrees, then falling in a curve. Their long flights are performed at night, it is supposed, as they are found feeding leisurely at all times of the day.

3. Small as they are, from their rapid flight and meteorlike movements they do not fear the largest birds of prey; for even should the lordly eagle venture into their domains, the tiny creatures will attack him without fear; and one has been seen perched on the head of an eagle, at which it was pecking furiously away, scattering the feathers of the huge bird, who flew screaming through the air with alarm, to rid himself of his tiny assailant.

4. Brave and high-spirited as is the little bird, it is easily tamed; and Mr. Webber, the naturalist, succeeded in securing several specimens. The first he caught did not flutter, or make the least attempt to escape, but remained quietly in his hand; and he saw, when he opened it, the minute creature lying on his palm, perfectly motionless, feigning most skilfully to be dead. He watched it with breathless curiosity, when he saw it slowly open its bright little eyes to see whether the way was clear, and then close them slowly as it caught his glance upon it. When a mixture of sugar, water, and honey was brought, and a drop placed on the point of its bill, it came very suddenly to life, and in a moment was on its legs, drinking with eager gusto of the refreshing draught from a silver tea-spoon.

5. The nest of the ruby-throat is of a most delicate nature; the external parts being formed of a little gray lichen found on the branches of the trees, glued together by the saliva of the bird and neatly arranged round the whole of the nest, as well as to some distance from the spot where it is attached to the branch or stem itself. The interior is lined with a cottony substance; and the innermost, with the silky fibers obtained from various plants.

6. The difficulty of finding these little nests is increased by a curious habit possessed by some of the humming-birds. When they leave or approach their home, they do so as if conscious that by the bright gleam of their plumage they might give an indication of the direction of their nest. Rising perpendicularly until they are out of sight, and having arrived over the spot on which their nest is placed, they drop down upon it as perpendicularly as they ascended.

7. The eggs are only two in number, and although somewhat larger than might be imagined from the size of the

bird, are very small indeed. They are of a delicate, slightly pink, semi-transparent white color, and have been well compared to pearls.

8. No sooner has the returning sun again introduced the vernal season, and caused millions of plants to expand their leaves and blossoms to his genial beams, than the little humming-bird is seen advancing on fairy wings, carefully visiting every opening flower-cup, and, like a curious florist, removing from each the injurious insects that would otherwise, ere long, cause their beauteous petals to droop and decay. Poised in the air, it peeps cautiously and with sparkling eye into their innermost recesses; whilst the ethereal motions of its pinions, so rapid and so light, seem to fan and cool the flower, without injuring its fragile texture, and produce a delightful murmuring sound, well adapted for lulling the insects to repose. Then is the moment for the humming-bird to secure them.

9. The prairies, the fields, the orchards and the gardens nay, the deepest shades of the forest, are all visited in their turn; and everywhere the little bird meets with pleasure and with food. Its throat in beauty and brilliancy baffles all competition. Now it glows with a fiery hue, and again it is changed into a velvety black. The upper parts of its delicate body are of resplendent changing green; and it darts through the air with a swiftness and vivacity hardly conceivable. It moves from one flower to another like a gleam of light. Humming-birds follow the course of the sun advancing and retiring with him; and, flying on the wings of the zephyrs, rejoice in eternal spring.

10. Could you cast a momentary glance on the nest of a humming-bird, and see, as I have seen, the newly hatched pair of young, not much larger than humble-bees,

naked, blind, and so feeble as scarcely to be able to raise their little bills to receive food from their parents, and could you see those parents full of anxiety and fear, passing and repassing within a few inches of your face, alighting on a twig not more than a yard from you, and waiting the result of your unwelcome visit in a state of despairyou could not fail to be interested in such a display of parental affection. Then how pleasing it is, on leaving the spot, to see the returning joy of the parents, when, after examining the nest, they find their nurslings untouched! AUDUBON. Adapted.

77. — THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE
MOCKING-BIRD.

a-ban-don', abandonment, a giving | palm [pahm], guerdon, symbol of

O nightingale! that on yon bloomy spray

Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still. — MILTON.

1. It might almost be said that the birds are all birds of the poets and of no one else, because it is only the poetical temperament that fully responds to them. So true is this, that all the great ornithologists have been poets in deed if not in word. Audubon is a notable case in point, who, if he had not the tongue or pen of the poet, certainly had the eye and ear and heart, and the singleness of purpose, the

enthusiasm, the unworldliness, the love, that characterize the true and divine race of bards.

2. So had Wilson, though perhaps not in so large a measure. Yet he took fire as only a poet can. While making a journey on foot to Philadelphia, shortly after landing in this country, he caught sight of the red-headed woodpecker flitting among the trees, a bird that shows like a tri-colored scarf among the foliage, and it so kindled his enthusiasm that his life was devoted to the pursuit of the birds from that day.

3. The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense is his life, large brained, large lunged, hot, ecstatic, his frame charged with buoyancy and his heart with song. The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, inasters of all climes, and knowing no bounds, how many human aspirations are realized in their free, holiday lives, and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song! Indeed, is not the bird the original type and teacher of the poet? and do we not demand of the human lark or thrush that he "shake out his carols" in the same free and spontaneous manner as his winged prototype?

4. The nightingale is the most general favorite, and nearly all the more noted English poets have sung her praises. To the melancholy poet she is melancholy, and to the cheerful she is cheerful. Shakespeare in one of his sonnets speaks of her song as mournful, while Martial calls her the "most garrulous" of birds. Milton sang: