448 



H UMMING-BIRD 



— the object seen being a Ha\vk-j\Ioth (Macroglossa), whose mode of 

 feeding and rapid flight certainly bears some resemblance to that of 

 the Twchilidm, and hence one of tlie species {M. stellarum) is very 

 generally called the "Humming-bird Hawk- Moth." But though 

 confined to the New World, the Trochilidx pervade almost every 

 part of it. In the south Eustephamis galeritus has been seen flitting 

 about the fuchsias of Tierra del Fnego in a snowstorm, and in the 

 north-west Selatophorus ^ ruftis in summer visits the ribes-blossoms of 

 Sitka, while in the north-east Trochilus coluhris charms the vision of 



Mellisuga minima on nest, natural size. (After Gosse.) 



Canadians as it poises itself over the althtea-bushes in their gardens, 

 and extends its range at least so far as lat. 57" N. Nor is the 

 distribution of Humming-birds limited to a horizontal direction 

 only, it rises also vertically. Oreotrochilus cJiiinbvrar.o and 0. jjicliincha 

 live on the lofty mountains whence each takes its trivial name, but 

 just beneath the line of perpetual snow, at an elevation of some 

 16,000 feet, dwelling in a world of almost constant hail, sleet and 

 rain, and feeding on the insects which resort to the indigenous 

 flowering plants, Avhile other peaks, only inferior to these in height, 

 are no less frequented by one or more species. Peru and Bolivia 

 ])roduce some of the most splendid of the Family — the genera 



^ Commonly but in error written Selasphorus. 



