UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 165 



most brilliant in colours our precious stones 

 cannot be compared in lustre to this jewel of 

 Nature, who has bestowed on it all the gifts 

 which she has only shared amongst other birds. 

 Lightness, swiftness, grace, and the most splen- 

 did clothing, all belong to this little favourite. 



" The emerald, the ruby, and the topaz, 

 sparkle in its plumage, which it never defiles 

 with the dust of the earth ; and scarcely even 

 deigns to touch the green turf for a- moment. It 

 is always on the "wing, fluttering from flower to 

 flower, and possesses their freshness as -well as 

 their brilliancy it lives on their nectar, and 

 only inhabits those climates where flowers never 

 cease to bloom. 



" It is in the warmest regions of the New 

 World, that all the species known of these birds 

 are found ; for those which advance in summer 

 to the temperate zones, only remain there a short 

 time. They seem to follow the sun, to advance 

 and retire with him ; and to fly on the wings of 

 Zephyr in the train of an eternal spring." 



I thought we had in Brazil the smallest hum- 

 ming-birds that were known ; but I have read in 

 Mr. Bullock's very entertaining book, that he 

 procured one in Jamaica, that was less than even 

 some species of the bee. It had taken its station 

 on a large tamarind tree, which was close to the 

 house, and overspread part of the yard ; there it 

 spent most of the day, and kept absolute posses- 



