38 VOICE AND SONG. 



and trees of the island, on a spot once the pride 

 of Jamaica, but now a deserted wilderness." 



It has been stated, we know not on what 

 authority, that the COBA HUMMING-BIRD (Na- 

 turalist's Library, vol. i. p. 129) utters a song; 

 and Jonston observes that although none of the 

 Spanish authors make mention of the song of 

 Humming-birds, two French writers, Levius and 

 Theretus, declare that they do sing, and, more- 

 over that they are so assiduous in song that no 

 one who had not seen and heard them would 

 believe that so sweet a strain could proceed from 

 bodies so diminutive. 



Among species so numerous, and so varied in 

 form, it is not improbable that some may utter 

 a slight querulous warble ; but this we suspect 

 to be the extent of their musical accomplishments. 

 The voice of most is confined to a monosyllabic 

 cry repeated when on the wing or under excite- 

 ment. 



Mr. Gosse, in his " Birds of Jamaica," speak- 

 ing of a species which he calls the VERVAIN 

 HUMMING-BIRD, Mellisuga humilis, but which 

 we cannot help thinking is the Trochilus mini- 

 mus of Linnaeus, Buffon, Edwards, Latham, and 

 others, who have erred in its admeasurements, 

 says, " The present is the only Humming-bird 

 that I am acquainted with that has a real song. 

 Soon after sunrise in the spring months it is 

 fond of sitting on the topmost branch of some 



