48 LOCAL EANGE. 



tanglement of climbing plants, it is often difficult 

 for the naturalist to discover to which stem 

 different flowers belong; nay, one single tree 

 adorned with Paullinia, Bignonice, and Dendro- 

 bia presents a mass of vegetable forms which, if 

 disentangled, would cover a considerable space 

 of ground." Humboldt's Cosmos. 



Such is the crepuscular region of flowers, a 

 region of vegetable glory, in which the Hum- 

 ming-birds flit on fairy wings, " from morn till 

 dewy eve," and when eve is blending into the 

 darkness of night. 



When we say that many species of Humming- 

 birds frequent gloomy openings in the forest, and 

 deep glades, andexhibit crepuscular habit^,itmust 

 not be supposed that we intend to assert that 

 any are positively nocturnal, for on this point 

 we have no information. If, however, species 

 partially nocturnal should be discovered, we 

 should feel but little surprise so varied are 

 these birds in local habitat, form, and general 

 economy. 



Many species affect water, skimming the sur- 

 face, petrel-like, on wings formed very like those 

 of the petrel, while the legs are remarkably mi- 

 nute. We do not suppose, however, that they 

 ever rest upon the water ; but they dart about 

 close to it, seizing minute insects which hover 

 low, and they examine the nectary of aquatic 

 flowers, either floating on the pool, or forming a 

 gay belt along its margin. 



