74 FASSERES. 



an inhabitant of Cayenne, Guiana, and other neighbouring locahties. It is 

 about the size of a common sparrow, and frequents the various flowering trees 

 and shrubs of its native land. The nest is pensile, and neatly woven upon 

 the extremity of some slender twig, which sways to and fro. Its shape re- 

 sembles that of a Jargonelle pear, the lower extremity being produced into a 

 long tube, with the mouth below, and the eggs placed in the upper dilated 

 portion. The birds of this sub-family are gregarious, delighting to associate 

 in large flocks, and haunting flower-bearing plants for the purpose of feeding 

 on the sweet nectar and tiny insects found within the blossoms. In feeding, 

 they thrust their long bill and tongue to the very bottom of the flower-bells, 

 much after the manner of bees. 



FAMILY III. 

 THE HUMMING-BIRDS. TROCHILID/E. 



General Characteristics. — Bill generally loncf, slender, straight, or curved, usually 

 rounded, and the tip acute ; the nostrils are basal, and covered by a large scale, 

 which is sometimes plumose ; the wings are generally long and of various forms ; 

 the taisi very short and generally slender ; the toes long and slender, the lateral toes 

 united at their base, hind toe moderate, and furnished with a more or less lengthened 

 claw. 



The Humming-Birds, some of which are the smallest of the 

 feathered tribes, are pecuhar 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 protruding 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 post of ob- 

 servation 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 ra- 

 pidity of flight and intricacy of path that the eye can scarcely 

 follow, or, circling round and round, they rise high in mid-air, and 



