450 HUMMING-BIRD 
no island of the Antilles but is inhabited by one or more Humming- 
birds, and there are some very remarkable singularities of geo- 
graphical distribution to be found. Northwards from Panama, the 
highlands present many genera, whose names it would be useless 
here to insert, few or none of which are found in South America— 
though that must unquestionably be deemed the metropolis of the 
Family, and advancing towards Mexico the numbers gradually fall 
off. Seventeen species have been enrolled in the fauna of the 
United States, but some perhaps on slender evidence, while others 
only just cross the frontier line. 
But little room is left to speak of the habits of Humming-birds, 
which is perhaps of the less consequence since the subject, as regards 
most of the species which in life have come under the observation 
of ornithologists, has been so ably treated by writers like Waterton, 
Wilson, and Audubon, to say nothing of Gosse, Bates, Mr. Wallace, 
and some others, while, whatever novelty further investigation may 
supply, it is certain that at present we lack information that will 
explain the origin or the function of the many modifications of 
external structure of which mention has been made. But there is 
no one appreciative of the beauties of nature who will not recall to 
memory with delight the time when a live Humming-bird first met 
his gaze. The suddenness of the apparition, even when expected, 
and its brief duration, are alone enough to fix the fluttering vision 
on the mind’s eye. The wings of the bird, if flying, are only 
visible as a thin grey film, bounded above and below by fine black 
threads, in form of a St. Andrew’s cross,—the effect on the observer’s 
retina of the instantaneous reversal of the motion of the wing at 
each beat—the strokes being so rapid as to leave no more distinct 
image. Consequently an adequate representation of the bird on the 
wing cannot be produced by the draughtsman. Humming-birds 
shew to the greatest advantage when engaged in contest with 
another, for rival cocks fight fiercely, and, as may be expected, it 
is then that their plumage flashes with the most glowing tints. But 
these are quite invisible to the ordinary spectator except when very 
near at hand, though doubtless efficient enough for their object, 
whether that be to inflame their mate or to irritate or daunt their 
opponent, or something that we cannot compass. Humming-birds, 
however, will also often sit still for a while, chiefly in an exposed 
position, on a dead twig, occasionally darting into the air, either 
to catch a passing insect or to encounter an adversary ; and so 
pugnacious are they that they will frequently attack birds many 
times bigger than themselves, without, as would seem, any pro- 
vocation. 
The food of Humming-birds consists mainly of insects, mostly 
gathered in the manner already described from the flowers they 
visit ; but, according to Mr. Wallace, there are many species which 
