THE HUMMING-BIRD FAMILY. 71 



The humming-bird family is a very large one, and contains all manner 

 of brilliant little creatures, with names such as the topaz, and the amethyst, 

 and the ruby-throated humming-bird. And sometimes the tiny gem is adorned 

 with an elegant ruff on its neck, that it can set up and down at pleasure, and 

 then it is called a " coquette." 



There are some humming-birds that live in the forest, and keep in the 

 shadow of the trees. This is very different from the usual habit of the family, 

 as they are creatures of the sun and cannot live without it. 



A little humming-bird was once put into a shady room, where the sun 

 did not shine. It became cold and benumbed, and dropped down as if it 

 were dead. The people of the house had to carry it out of doors, and lay it 

 in the full glare of the sun. Then it soon began to revive, and became as 

 lively as ever. 



But the humming-bird of the forest docs not seem to care about the sun. 

 It searches for insects among the leaves of the trees, and threads its way 

 along from branch to branch. 



This curious humming-bird not only lives in the shade, but does not 

 venture out until evening. It has almost the habits of the owl. 



People cannot rear the humming-birds in England, the climate is much 

 too cold. 



A young man once saw a humming-bird sitting on her nest, and he 

 contrived to cut off the branch, and carry away bird and nest together. The 

 ship was just ready to sail for England, and he took it with him on board. 



The mother bird soon hatched her eggs, and grew very tame, and would 

 eat out of his hand. But she died before the ship reached England. 



He contrived to rear the two young birds, and they lived some little time 

 after they reached this country. A lady used to feed them out of her mouth, 

 but in spite of every care the poor little things fell victims to the climate. 



THE SUN-BIRD. 



The sun-bird is, as you see, a near relative of the humming-bird, and wears 

 the same gorgeous attire. He has been called the humming-bird of Africa, 



