98 TENUIKOSTRES. 



The Humming-birds^ some of wliicli are the 

 smallest of the feathered tribes, are peculiar to the 

 New World, in the tropical parts of which they 

 abound, adorning the gardens, fields, and woods, 

 and even the mountain-side to a considerable height, 

 with their swiftly-glancing, fairy-like forms, and 

 brilliant, sparkling colours. Hovering in the air, 

 with its wings in such rapid motion as to be quite 

 invisible or only apparent like a grey mist on each 

 side of the bird, the little Humming-bird buries its 

 long bill in the interior of a flower, and then pro- 

 truding its forked tongue, readily seizes the little 

 beetles and other insects that are attracted by the 

 nectar. While thus occupied, the rapidly-vibrating 

 wings produce a humming sound ; whence the origin 

 of their name. Some of the species capture flies on 

 the wing", by taking up a pos-t of observation upon 

 the tip of a dead branch or twig, and flying off in 

 pursuit of their prey as soon as it comes in sight. 



Wherever a creeping vine opens its clusters, or 

 wherever a tree-flower blooms, these little fairies 

 may be seen. In the garden or in the woods, over 

 the water, everywhere, they are darting about. 

 Sometimes they are seen chasing each other in sport 

 with a rapidity of flight and intricacy of path that 

 the eye can scarcely follow, or, circling round and 

 round, they rise high in mid-air, and then dart off 

 like sparkles of light to some distant attraction. 

 Now perched upon a little twig, they dress their 

 plumes, and seem to delight in the dazzling hues of 

 their glowing breasts ; then starting off, they skim 

 leisurely along, stopping capriciously to kiss the 

 coquetting flowers. Often two meet in mid-air, and 

 fight furiously, their crests and the feathers upon 

 their throats erected and blazing, and altogether 

 pictures of the most violent rage. Sometimes they 

 may be seen battling with large black bees that fre- 

 quent the same flowers, and may be supposed often 

 to interfere provokingly. Like lightning, the little 

 heroes come down, and again and again renew the 



