OBI GIN OF NAME. ^ --/ ,+>., 



X^/^flRNiA. 

 But, although spiders do not catch H 



birds, the latter, as we have seen, often rob the 

 spiders' webs of the flies entangled therein ; and 

 Mr. Bullock admirably describes the actions of 

 one species, the Mexican Star, which he fre- 

 quently watched in the act of robbing spiders' 

 nests, not, however, always without resistance on 

 the part of the rightful owner, a circumstance 

 which may probably have contributed to confirm 

 the belief, that spiders spread their nets for the 

 purpose of catching the birds, which, indeed, 

 may sometimes have their wings entangled so as 

 scarcely to be able to extricate them. 



With respect to the term "Humming-bird," 

 we need scarcely observe, that it is given to 

 these beautiful little creatures in consequence of 

 the buzzing noise produced in so many species 

 by the rapid vibratory movement of the wings 

 while suspended, as it were, in the air, they ex- 

 amine or probe the flowers in quest of food. 

 Buffon well observes, that the vibration of the 

 wings is so rapid, that the bird poised in the air, 

 not only appears immoveable, but entirely with- 

 out action. It is seen to stop thus some in- 

 stants before a flower, and dart off like a gleam 

 to another ; it visits them all, plunging its little 

 tongue into their bosom, caressing them with its 

 wings, without ever settling, but at the same 

 time never quitting them. 



To the buzzing noise thus produced, they owe 

 also the epithets of " Murmures," "Bourdons" 



