214 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



the architecture of the Italian and French houses, except that the 

 roofs are covered with sheet iron painted with vivid colors, mostly red 

 and green. The window's are double. The history of architecture i 

 curious in the extreme, and would furnish amusement as well as use- 

 ful instruction. It deserves more attention than it has received. 



HUMMING-BIRD. The least of all the feathered tribes ; iti 

 body being not bigger than the end of one's finger, and its eggs no 

 larger than small peas : it is a native of America. On this little bira 

 nature has profusely lavished her most splendid colors ; the most per- 

 fect azure, the most beautiful gold color, the most dazzling red, are 

 forever in contrast, and help to embellish the plumes of its majestic 

 head. Like the bee, it finds its food in flowers and blossoms ; when 

 it feeds, it appears as if immovable, though continually on the wing. 

 Myriads of these little birds are seen, feeding on the flowers and 

 blossoms, in the southern parts of the United States, and in the 

 Floridas. 



HUMUS. The general name of humus is given to fine, dark- 

 brown or blackish particles of decayed vegetation, which impart 

 their richness- to all fertile soils. It is frequently called vegetable 

 mould. The amount of humus in the soil is readily increased by 

 green fallows, by ploughing in straw, prepared peat, and all vegetable 

 rubbish. The leaves of trees which fall in the forest in autumn, and 

 the old roots of grass in the meadows, are likewise converted into 

 humus. 



HUNGER. The feeling of a want of food. When the stomach 

 has digested arid disposed of the food and drink which it contained, 

 its peculiar nervous power is destroyed, and some time is necessary 

 before it collects it again. This time is shorter in proportion as the 

 individual is healthy, young, strong, and active. As soon as this 

 nervous power is restored, the activity of the organ is again awakened, 

 and produces a longing to eat, which we call, in its first degree, appe- 

 tite. If this is riot gratified, it gains strength, and becomes hunger, 

 which, if not appeased, turns to voracity. Appetite is not a disagree- 

 able feeling, but hunger is an ever-increasing pain, on account of the 

 ever-increasing sensibility of the nerves of the stomach. 



To some men, whose stomachs are morbidly sensitive, the first 

 desire for food is unpleasant, and if this desire is not immediately 

 gratified, they are seized with griping pains in the parts about the 

 stomach, which, if not appeased, are followed by sudden weakness, 

 and even fainting. If hunger is not allayed, a dreadful state of the 

 body ensues, and finally death. After long continued hunger, the 

 blood becomes weak, acrid, and thin, on account of the want of mate- 

 rials to compensate for the nutritious matter expended in the support 

 of the body ; hence the whole body becomes lean and weak, bloody 

 fluxes take place from all parts, as well as violent irritation of the 

 nervous system, caused by the excessive sensibility of the nerves of 



