290 THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



transitory stay in the tenipei'ate zoues. Thoy I'oUow the course of the sun, advancing 

 or retiring with him, and tiyiug on tlie wings of the zephyrs, wanton in eternal 

 sjoring." 



The humming bird has indeed been universally beloved and admired by every lover of 

 nature. Audubon compares it to the glittering fragment of a rainbow ; the Araericau 

 Indians give it a name signifying a simbeam, expressive of its brilliancy and rapidity of 

 motion, and frequently wear it in their ears as a pendant ; and the enthusiastic Alexander 

 Wilson, in his historj' of its habits, makes it the subject of a poem, from which we cannot 

 refrain extracting a few lines : — 



" AVhoii the niorniug- dawns, and tlie blest siui again 

 Lifts his red glories fi-om the eastern main, 

 Then through our woodbines, wet with glittering Jews, 

 The flower-fed humming-bird Iris round pursues ; 

 J Sips, with inserted tube, the houe3-'d blooms, 



And chii-jjs his gratitude as round he roams ; 

 Wliilc richest roses, though in crimson di-cst, 

 Shrink from the splendour of liis gorgeous breast. 

 "What heavenly tints in mingUng radiance ily ! 

 Each rapid movement gives a difi'erent dye ; 

 Like scales of burnish'd gold they da/zling show. 

 Now sink to shade — now like a furnace glow." 



No sooner, indeed, 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 advancrng on fairy wings, carefully visiting every opening flower- 

 cup, and, like a curious florist, removing from each the injurious insects that would other- 

 wise ere long cause their beautifid petals to droop and decay. Poised in the air, it is 

 observed peeping cautiously and with sjjarklmg eye into their innermost recesses, while 

 the etherial motion of its pinions, so rapid and so light, appear to fan and cool the flower 

 without injuring its delicate texture, and produce a delightful murmuring sound well 

 adapted for lulling the insects to repose. This then is the moment for the humming- 

 bird to secure them. Its long delicate bill enters the cup of the flower, and the protruded 

 double-tubed tongue, delicately sensible, and imbued with a glutinous saliva, touches 

 each insect in succession, and draws it from its lurking-place, to be instantly swallowed. 

 All tliis is done in a moment, and the bird, as it loaves the flower, sips so small a portion 

 of its liquid honey, that the theft, we might almost suppose, is looked upon with a gratcl'id 

 feeling by the flower, which is thus kindly relieved from the attacks of her destroyers. The 

 prairies, the tields, the orchards and gardens, nay, the deepest shades of the forest, are 

 all visited in their turn, and everywhere the little bird meets with pleasure and food. 

 Its gorgeous throat in beauty and brilliancy baffles all competition. Now it glo^^■s with 

 u fiery hue, and again it is changed to the deepest velvety black. The upper parts of 

 its body are of resplendent changing green, and it throws itself througlt the air with u 

 swiftness and vivacity luirdly conceivable. It moves from oiu' flower to another like a 

 gleam of light, upwards, downwards, to. the right, and to the left. In this numner il 

 .searches the extreme northern portions of America, following with great precaution 

 flic advances of tlu- season, and retreats witli ecpial care at the api)roacli of autumn. 



These birds do not alight on the ground, but easily settle on twigs and brandies, where 

 they move sideways in prettily-mcasui-ed steps, frequently opening and closing their 

 wings, plmning, shaking, and arianging the wliolc of tlu'ir apimril with neatness and 

 activit}'. They arc particularly fond of spreading one wing at a lime, and passing each 

 of their quill-feathera through the bill, in its whole lengtli, wlicn, if llic sun is shining, 

 the wing thus plumed is rendered extremely tran.sparent. and iiglil. 'I'licy ica\c tlic twig, 



