80 METALLIC PLUMAGE, 



of the creeping sea-mouse (Aphrodita aculeata) 

 adorned with metallic blue, green, and gold? 

 Such questions are idle. 



But, magnificent as a cabinet of Humming- 

 birds undoubtedly is, we must not suppose that 

 the tints and effulgence are as brilliant as they 

 were during life. " Europeans," says Mr. Bul- 

 lock, " who have seen only the stuffed remains 

 of these feathered little gems in museums, have 

 been charmed with their beautiful appearance ; 

 but those who have examined them while living, 

 displaying their moving crests, throats, and tails, 

 like the Peacock, in the sun, can never look 

 witn pleasure on their mutilated forms. I have 

 carefully preserved about 200 specimens in the' 

 best possible manner, yet they are still but the 

 shadow of what they were during life. The rea- 

 son is obvious : for the sides of the laminae or 

 fibres of each feather being of a different colour 

 from the surface, will change when seen in a 

 front or oblique direction, and as each lamina or 

 fibre turns upon the axis of the quill, the least 

 motion, when living, causes the feathers to 

 change suddenly to the most opposite hues. 

 Thus, the one from Nootka Sound changes its 

 expanded throat from the most vivid fire-colour 

 to light green. The Topaz -throated does the 

 same; and the Mexican Star changes from 

 bright crimson to blue." 



We were, a few days since, examining a Hum- 

 ming-bird, the gorget of which was intense erne- 



