INTRODUCTORY. 



very pleasant to listen to, and that seems 

 to lull the insects within the flower to sleep. 

 Then out darts his long delicate tongue, 

 and takes them up, one after the other ; 

 and he finishes by sipping a little honey. 



All the strenofth of the Humminof-Bird 

 lies in his wings, that are large in propor- 

 tion to his tiny body. They are a little 

 like those of the Swift in shape ; and 

 everybody knows how rapidly the Swift 

 can dart about, and cleave the air with his 

 pinions. The feathers on the quills of 

 the Humming-Bird's wing are so firmly 

 united that they are almost like a thin plate 

 of whalebone. No air can pass through 

 them, and this is why they make a hum- 

 ming sound, as the bird vibrates his wings. 



The Humming- Bird needs these strong 

 wings to support himself in the air, as his 

 feet are too weak and delicate to perch for 

 any length of time. 



