224 HUMMING-BIEDS. 



bird produces a noise exactly like the whizzinj^ of a wheel driv; u by macliinery, while 

 that of another species is very like the droning hum of a lai-ge bee. 



The niuaber of species of these birds is truly wonderful, as more than three hundred 

 are known and have been described, while new species are being continually discovered. 

 It is evident to any one who has examined these exquisite little birds, and studied the 

 inexhaustible variety of form and colour which they exhibit, that many forms are yet 

 wanting as links needed to complete the chain of species, and that in all probability there 

 are in existence Hunnning-birds which possess forms quite as strange and colours c^uite 

 as glowing as any of those which liave found a place in our collections. 



The legs of these birds are remarkably weak and delicate, and the wings are propor- 

 tionately strong, a combination which shows that the creatures are intended to pass more 

 of their time in the air than on foot. Even when feeding they very seldom trouble 

 themselves to perch, but suspend themselves in the air before the flower on which they 

 desire to operate, and with their long slender tongues are able to feed at ease without 

 alighting. In the skeleton, especially in the shape of the breast-bone and wings, as well 

 as in the comparative small size of the feet, the Humming-birds bear some analogy to 

 the swifts, and, like those birds, never lay more than two eggs. 



The flight of these birds is inconceivably rapid, so rapid indeed that the eye cannot 

 follow it when the bird puts forth its full speed ; and with such wonderful rapidity do the 

 little sharp-cut wings beat the air, that their form is quite lost, and while the bird is 

 hovering near a single spot, the wings look like two filmy grey fans attached to the sides. 

 While darting from one flower to another the bird can hardly be seen at all, and it seems 

 to come suddenly into existence at some spot, and as suddenly to vanish from sight. 

 Some Humming-birds are fond of towering to a great height in the air, and descending 

 trom thence to their nests or to feed, while others keep near the ground, and are seldom 

 seen at an elevation of many yards. 



The food of the Humming-birds is much the same as that of the lioneysuckers, 

 except, perhaps, that they consume more honey and fewer flies. Still, they are extremely 

 fond of small insects, and if kept away from this kind of diet soon pine away, in spite 

 of unlimited supplies of syrup and other sweet food. 



In Webber's " Wild Scenes and Song Birds," there is an interesting description of 

 some ruby-throated Humming-birds, in which their necessity for insect food is well 

 shown. He had several times succeeded in capturing and taming specimens of these 

 lovely little birds, but always found that they began to pine away and look doleful until 

 they were set at liberty. As soon as they were free, they darted away into the air, but 

 soon returned to their old quarters, attracted by the sweet repast which was plentifully 

 prepared for them. They had evidently been greatly benefited by their short absence, for 

 they resumed their accustomed vivacity, antl continued in good health for a fortnight, at 

 the expiration of which time they again drooped, and again needed a short period of 

 freedom. Anxious to discover their proceedings during their absence, Mr. Webber and 

 his sister watched them carefully when they M'ere next set at liberty, and at last were 

 fortunate enough to succeed in their endeavours. 



"When we opened the cage this time, it was a bright summer's morning, just after 

 sunrise. What was our surprise to see the rubj^-tliroat, instead of darting away as usual, 

 remain with the young ones, which had immediately sought sprays, as if feeling a little 

 uncertain what to do with themselves. Scarlet flew round and round them ; then he 

 would dart off to a little distance in the garden, and suspend himself on the wing for an 

 instant, before what I at first could not perceive to be anything more than two bare 

 twigs ; then he would return and fly around them again, as if to show them how easy 

 it was. 



The little bold fellows did not require long persuasion, but were soon laimched in the 

 air again. Tliey too commenced the same mananivrcs among the shrubbery, and as there 

 w-ere no flowers there, we were sadly puzzled to think what it was they were dipping at 

 so eagerly, to the utter neglect of any of the many flowers, not one of which they 

 appeared to notice. We moved closer to w-atch them to better advantage, and in doing 

 so, changed our relative position to the sun. 



