THE SPARROW KIND. 157 



, which it is impossible for words to satisfy. Naturalists, in- 

 deed, have endeavoured to satisfy this desire, by coloured prints ; but 

 beside that these at best give only a faint resemblance of Nature, and 

 are a very indifferent kind of painting, the bird itself has a thousant. 

 beauties, that the most exquisite artist is incapable of imitating 

 They, for instance, who imagine they have a complete idea of the 

 beauty of the little tribe of Manikin birds, from the pictures we have 

 of them, will find themselves deceived, when they compare their 

 draughts with Nature. The shining greens, the changeable purples 

 and the glossy reds, are beyond the reach of the pencil ; and very far 

 beyond the coloured print, which is but a poor substitute for painting. 

 I have therefore declined entering into a minute description of foreign 

 birds of the sparrow kind ; as sounds would never convey an adequate 

 idea of colours. 



There is one species, however, that I will conclude the history of 

 this class with ; as, though the least, it will certainly be allowed the 

 most beautiful of all others. In quadrupeds, the smallest animals are 

 noxious, ugly, and loathsome ; the smallest of birds are the most 

 beautiful, innocent, and sportive. Of all those that flutter in the gar- 

 den, or paint the landscape, the Humming-bird is the most delightful 

 to look upon, and the most inoffensive. 



Of this charming little animal, there are six or seven varieties, from 

 the size of a small wren, down to that of an humble-bee. An Europe- 

 an could never have supposed a bird existing so very small, and yet 

 completely furnished out with a bill, feathers, wings, and intestines, 

 exactly resembling those of the largest kind. A bird not so big as the 

 end of one's little finger, would probably be supposed but a creature 

 of imagination, were it not seen in infinite numbers, and as frequent 

 as butterflies in a summer's day, sporting in the fields of America, 

 *rom flower to flower, and extracting their sweet with its little bill. 



The smallest humming-bird is about the size of a hazel-nut. The 

 feathers on its wings and tail are black ; but those on its body, and 

 under its wings, are of a greenish brown with a fine red cast, or gloss, 

 which no silk or velvet can imitate. It has a small crest on its head, 

 green at the bottom, and, as it were, gilded at the top ; and which 

 sparkles in the sun like a little star in the middle of its forehead. The 

 bill is black, straight, slender, and of the length of a small pin. The 

 larger humming-bird is near half as big as the common wren, and 

 without a crest on its head ; but, to make amends, it is covered, from 

 the throat half way down the belly, with changeable, crimson-colour- 

 ed feathers, that, ia different lights, change to a variety of beautiful 

 colours, much like an opal. The heads of both are small, with very 

 little round eyes as black as jet. 



It is inconceivable how much these add to the high finishing and 

 beauty of a rich and luxurious western landscape. As soon as the 

 sun is risen, the humming-birds of different kinds are seen fluttering 

 about the flowers, without ever lighting upon them. Their wings are 

 in such rapid motion, that it is impossible to discern their colours, ex- 

 cept by their glittering. They are never still, but continually in mo- 

 tion, visiting flower after flower, and extracting its honey as if with a 

 kiss. For this purpose they are furnished with a forky tongue that 

 enters the cup of the flower, and extracts its nectared tribute. Upon 



