Observations on the Humming-Bird. 593 



the woods in the vicinity of the many mountains of Orizaba ; 

 while Captain King, in the late survey of the southern coasts, 

 met with numerous members of this diminutive family flying 

 about in a snow-storm, near the Straits of Magellan; and dis- 

 covered two species, which he considered undescribed, in the 

 remote island of Juan Fernandez. 



Two species only extend into the northern continent of 

 America: the one, the ruff-necked humming-bird (Selas- 

 phortis rufus of Swainson), was discovered by Captain Cookin 

 Nootka Sound, and has been traced by Kotzebue to the 61st 

 degree along the western shores ; the other, the northern hum- 

 ming-bird (Trochilus Colubris of Linnaeus), which is thus 

 beautifully described by Wilson: — "Though this interesting 

 and beautiful genus of birds comprehends upwards of seventy 

 species, all of which, with a very few exceptions, are natives 

 of America and its adjacent islands, it is yet singular that 

 the species now before us should be the only one of its tribe 

 that ever visits the territory of the United States. Accord- 

 ing to the observations of Mr. Abbott of Savannah, in Geor- 

 gia, who has been engaged thirty years in collecting and 

 drawing objects of natural history in that part of the country, 

 the humming-bird makes its first appearance there from the 

 south, about the 23d of March, two weeks earlier than it does 

 in the county of Burke, sixty miles higher up the country 

 towards the interior; and at least five weeks sooner than it 

 reaches this part of Pennsylvania. As it passes on to the 

 northward, as far as the interior of Canada, where it is seen 

 in great numbers, Mr. M'Kenzie speaks of seeing a beau- 

 tiful humming-bird near the head of the Unjigah, or Peau 

 River, in latitude 54°. Audubon is of opinion that they 

 migrate during the night, passing through the air in long un- 

 dulations, raising themselves for some distance at an angle of 

 about 40°,. and then falling in a curve; but he adds that the 

 smallness of their size precludes the possibility of following 

 them farther than fifty or sixty yards, even with a good glass. 



"About the 25th of April, the humming-bird usually ar- 

 rives in Pennsylvania; and, about the 10th of May, begins to 

 build its nest. This is generally fixed on the upper side of a 

 horizontal branch, not among the twigs, but on the body of 

 the branch itself. Yet I have known instances where it was 

 attached by the side to an old moss-grown trunk ; and others 

 where it was fastened on a strong rank stalk, or weed, in the 

 garden ; but these cases are rare. In the woods, it very often 

 chooses a white oak sapling to build on ; and, in the orchard 

 or garden, selects a pear tree for that purpose. The branch 



Vol. I.— No. 11. n. s. xx 



