The Humming Bird
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE HUMMING BIRD (J5x32) 5C set Tim Eyres Oxford Silver Jubilee1- 4 2s and 4s cross LH and join RH with 1st corners, all Balance in 2 diagonal lines of 4
5- 8 2s and 4s turn 1st corners RH into lines of 3 or 4 across (4M between 5s, 2M+4L with 3s, 2L with 1s) and All set
9-16 2L+1s also 4M+5s dance RSh reels of 3 across (RSh to 1st corner) while 2M+3s+4L dance RSh reel of 4 across
17-20 2s and 4s join LH, dance up/down to join RH with 2nd corners and Balance-in-Line with corners
21-24 2s and 4s turn corners RH ending on opposite sides, all join hands Balance-in-Line on sides 1s, 3s and 5s remain facing out
25-28 1s cast 1 place as 2s cross up, 1s cross down to 3rd place as 3s cast up
29-32 1s cast down as 4s cross up and 1s cross down as 5s cast up (hands are not given during crossings). 23451
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Dance Instruction Videos
The Humming Bird - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
Hummingbirds, members of the biological family Trochilidae, are native to the Americas and are most notably distinguished by their swift and agile flight, allowing them to hover through rapid wing flapping at high frequencies.With approximately 366 species distributed across 113 genera, they inhabit regions from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, with a concentration of species in Central and South America. Among them, about 28 hummingbird species are classified as endangered or critically endangered, reflecting a worrisome trend of declining populations in numerous species.
Hummingbirds possess diverse specialized features that facilitate swift and agile flight, remarkable metabolic capabilities, adaptations to high altitudes, heightened visual and communication skills, and, in some species, long-distance migration. Among all bird species, male hummingbirds exhibit the most extensive range of plumage colors, particularly in blues, greens, and purples. Measuring between 7.5-13 cm (3-5 in) in length, hummingbirds claim the title of the smallest mature birds. The bee hummingbird, at a mere 5 cm (2.0 in) length and weighing less than 2.0 g (0.07 oz), holds the record for the smallest, while the giant hummingbird, measuring 23 cm (9.1 in) and weighing 18-24 grams (0.63-0.85 oz), represents the largest.
Known for their elongated beaks, hummingbirds have evolved for specialized feeding on flower nectar, although all species also incorporate small insects into their diet.
The name "hummingbirds" originates from the audible humming sound produced by their rapid wing beats, which range from approximately 12 beats per second in larger species to a staggering 80 beats per second in smaller hummingbirds. This distinctive characteristic is not only a crucial aspect of their flight but also serves as an audible communication method, detectable by both other birds and humans.
Humming Bird, Lesser Violet-ear, Boquete, Panama, 2008
See this original Hummingbird article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'The Humming Bird' page