HUMMING-niRDS. 351 



but whilst hovering over a flower, it flaps its wings 

 with a very slow and powerful movement, totally 

 different from that vibratory one common to most 

 of the species which produces the humming noise. 

 I never saw any other bird where the force of its 

 wings appeared (as in a butterfly) so powerful in 

 proportion to the weight of its body. When hov- 

 ering by a flower, its tail is constantly expanded 

 and shut like a fan, the body being kept in a near- 

 ly vertical position. This action appears to steady 

 and support the biixl between the slow movements 

 of its wings. Although flying from flower to flow- 

 er in search of food, its stomach generally contain- 

 ed abundant remains of insects, which I suspect 

 are much more the object of its search than honey. 

 The note of this species, like that of nearly the 

 whole family, is extremely shrill. 



END OF VOL. I. 



