A HUMMING BIRD'S TREE.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 450, 1 December 1904, Page 3

A HUMMING BIRD'S TREE.

9»ars» at Me <r*»y C»««4ww»b\ itf* a fLoeUkma* (Bl*.) Cher* r s T*** •'. An now daily to be seen at the hom'&of VY..O. Puller, Jr., of this city, is a large cherry trsa that is steadily visited from early morning to sunset by a large flock of humming birds, says a Rockland (Me.) report. Fully 100 o* theaa dainty little creature* are to be seen caaselecsij darting among the branches of the tree, or poising themselves on wing before the fruit into which they reach fcr honey. The constant flutter of so many pairs o< wing* creates a whirring noiae like the distant hum of machinery. According to Chapman, but one variety of the humming bird is found here in the east, the ruby-throated, which breeds from Labrador to Florida. Its upper parts are bright, shining green; wings and' tail fuscous with purplish reflections; throat baautif ul metallic ruby-red, whence the name. The ruby-throat has no song, its only note being a squeak, expressive of distrust or axcitament. There is a belief among some that the humming bird never aHghts when absent from it* nest, but this is easily."disproved, the little-colony of them here alluded to exhibiting many refutations of this erroneous impression. The humming bird is as fearless as beautiful. Each spring while this cherry tree remains in blossom this visit of the humming birds recurs.