VISIT TO CAPTAIN A*** HUMMING-BIRDS. 167 



The house was a log cottage of considerable dimensions, one 

 longitudinal half of which was occupied by a kitchen and sit 

 ting room ; the other half consisted of sleeping apartments, 

 which I did not number. The door opened into the kitchen, 

 in which every thing was clean and neat, and which commu 

 nicated with the rest of the house. The interior walls con 

 sisted of unbarked trees, against w r hich an extensive library 

 was placed, occupying one end of the sitting room. When 

 retiring for the night, we were conducted up a stair into a kind 

 of garret, where we were told we must sleep. At this time I 

 had not seen much Backwood life, and my looks, perhaps, 



betraying astonishment, Captain A laughed heartily, and 



reconducted us to an apartment below, where I reposed for 

 the night, on a more comfortable bed than any I afterwards 

 met with in America. 



Next morning, I arose before any of the family, and while 

 walking up the banks of the stream, ere the sun had peeped 

 over the forest, enjoyed an excellent opportunity of observing 

 the humming-bird of the country. Upwards of a dozen of 

 these lovely creatures were feeding on the blossoms of a plant 

 growing near the river, the celerity of their movements in 

 examining and passing from flower to flower excited admira 

 tion, and when moving to a distance, the eye could not follow 

 their rapidity of flight. A copious formation of dew had taken 

 place in course of the night, which draggled their beautiful 

 plumage in flattering amongst the leaves, and they frequently 

 retired to a fallen tree to trim their feathers. They seemed 

 regardless of my presence, and plied their task within a few 

 yards of me. They do not, like the bee, rest on a plant 

 when examining a flower, but thrust their long bill into the 

 heart of the blossom when suspended in air, and in this posi 

 tion excite the noise from which they take their name. 



Captain A s family consisted of eleven children, the 



eldest of whom seemed about seventeen years. He had 

 moved in the best society of London, and in consequence of a 

 sudden reverse of fortune, came to his present situation, and 

 at once placed his family in the bush, without a servant or 

 any one to assist them, and they bake, cook, wash, and do 

 every thing for themselves. Mrs A is a sensible woman, 



