Penfyfoania, Philadelphia. 165 



Dr. Linnaus calls it Trcchilus Colubru. The 

 Swedes, and fome EngKJhmen, call it the Kings 

 bird ; but the name of Humming-bird is more 

 common. Cate/by, in his Natural Hiflory of Ca- 

 rolina, Vol. i. page 65. tab. 65. has drawn it, 

 in its natural fize, with its proper colours, and 

 added a defcription of it. * In fize it is not much 

 bigger than a large humble-bee, and is therefore 

 the lead of all birds, -j- or it is much if there is 

 a lefier fpecies in the world. Its plumage is moft 

 beautifully coloured, moft of its feathers being 

 green, fome grey, and others forming a mining 

 red ring round its neck ; the tail glows with fine 

 feathers, changing from green into a brafs co- 

 lour. Thefe birds come here in fpring, about 

 the time when it begins to grow very warm, and 

 make their nefts in fummer ; but, towards au- 

 tumn, they retreat again into the more fouthern 

 countries of America. They fubfift barely upon 

 the neftar, or fweet juice of flowers, contained in 

 that part which botanifts call the neftarium, 

 and which they fuck up with their long bills. 

 Of all the flowers, they like thofe moft, which 

 have a long tube ; and I have obferved that they 

 have fluttered chiefly about the Impatiens No/i 

 tangere, and the Monarda with crimfon flowers. 

 An inhabitant of the country is fure to have a 



* THE fame is to be met with in Edwards 's Natural Hiftory 

 of Birds, page 38. tab. 38. F. 



f THERE is a much lefler fpecies of humming-bird, byZ/- 

 n<eu3 called Trochilus minimum being the lead bird known j Str 

 ffans Sloans's living one weighed only twenty grains, and Mr. 

 fidwards's dry one forty-five. It is drawn in Ednvardfs birds, 

 f, 150. in its natural fize, together with its egg. F. 



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