THE 



NATURAL HISTORY 



OF THE 



NECTARINIAD^E OR SUN-BIRDS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



" Each spangled back bright sprinkled specks adorn, 

 Each plume imbibes the rosy-tinctured morn ; 

 Spread on each wing the florid seasons glow, 

 Shaded and verged with the celestial bow ; 

 Where colours blend an ever- varying dye, 

 And wanton in their gay exchanges vie." 



IN the early Volumes of " THE LIBRARY," we have 

 endeavoured to illustrate a family of birds, univer- 

 sally acknowledged to be among the most brilliant 

 in plumage, as well as being most interesting and 

 singular from their diminutive size ; these were seen 

 to be peculiar to the New World, and more particu- 

 larly to the tropical or warmer portions of it, though 

 a few examples of tiny size and bright colouring 

 extended far to the north*, appearing there as 

 * Selasphorus rufus, Sw. 



