254 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



ing on humming winglets through the air, suspended as if by magic in 

 it, flitting from one flower to another, with motions as graceful as they 

 are light and airy, pursuing its course and yielding new delights wher 

 ever it is seen . . . would not pause, admire, and turn his mind 

 with reverence toward the Almighty Creator, the wonders of whose hand 

 we at every step discover, and of whose sublime conception we every- 

 where observe the manifestations in his admirable system of creation f " 



Buffon's characterization, however, is somewhat inaccurate and 

 slightly overdrawn, since nature has no^eiidowed Humming Birds "with 

 all the gifts of which she has only given other birds a share," the ab 

 sence of melodious voice being, as a rule, a conspicuous deficiency of 

 the tribe, while the statement that they are " always in the air" is very 

 inaccurate, Humming Birds' requiring the same repose which other 

 kinds find necessary. 



The author of that magnificent work, "A Monograph of the Trochi- 

 lidai" Mr. John Gould in recounting his own experience with Hum- 

 ming Birds, if less extravagant in his praise of them is no less en- 

 thusiastic in his admiration. "That early impressions of the mind," 

 says he, " are vividly retained, while events of the day flit from our 

 memory, must have been experienced by everyone. How vivid, then, 

 is my recollection of the first Humming Bird which met my admiring 

 gaze! With what delight did I examine its tiny body and feast my 

 eyes on its glittering plumage ! This early impression, I well remem- 

 ber, gradually increased into an earnest desire to attain a more inti- 

 mate acquaintance with the lovely group of birds to which it pertained, 

 and was still further strengthened when an opportunity was afforded 

 me of inspecting the, at that time, unique collection of the Trochilidce 

 formed by the late Mr. George Loddiges, of Hackney. This gentleman 

 and myself were imbued with a kindred spirit in the love we both en- 

 tertained for this family of living gems. To describe the feeling which 

 animated us with regard to them is impossible. It can, in fact, only 

 be realized by those who have made natural history a study, and who 

 pursue the investigation of its charming mysteries with ardor and 

 delight. That our enthusiasm and excitement with regard to most 

 things become lessened, if not deadened, by time, particularly when 

 we have acquired what we vainly consider a complete knowledge of 

 the subject, is, I fear r too often the case with most of us ; not so, how- 

 ever, I believe, with those who take up the study of the family of 

 Humming Birds. Certainly I can affirm that such is not the case with 

 myself; for the pleasure which I experience on seeing a Humming 

 Bird is as great at the present moment as when I first saw one. Dur- 

 ing the first 20 years of my acquaintance with these wonderful works 

 of creation my thoughts were often directed to them in the day, and 

 my night dreams have not unfrequently carried me to their native 

 forests in the distant country of America. 



"In passing through this world I have remarked that when inquirers 



