82 HUMMING-BIRD. 



with a dexterity that sets all our other Flycatchers at defiance. 

 I have opened from time to time great numbers of these birds; 

 have examined the contents of the stomach with suitable glas- 

 ses, and in three cases out of four, have found these to consist 

 of broken fragments of insects. In many subjects entire insects 

 of the coleopterous class, but very small, were found unbroken. 

 The observations of Mr. Coffer as detailed above, and the re- 

 marks of my worthy friend Mr. Peale, are corroborative of 

 these facts. It is well known that the Humming-bird is par- 

 ticularly fond of tubular flowers where numerous small insects 

 of this kind resort to feed on the farina, &c. and there is every 

 reason for believing that he is as often in search of these insects 

 as of honey; and that the former compose at least as great a 

 portion of his usual sustenance as the latter. If this food be so 

 neccessary for the parents there is no doubt but the young also 

 occasionally partake of it. 



To enumerate all the flowers of which this little bird is fond, 

 would be to repeat the names of half our American Flora. From 

 the blossoms of the towering poplar, or tulip tree, through a 

 thousand intermediate flowers to those of the humble larkspur, 

 he ranges at will, and almost incessantly. Every period of the 

 season produces a fresh multitude of new favourites. Towards 

 the month of September there is a yellow flower which grows 

 in great luxuriance along the sides of creeks and rivers, and in 

 low moist situations; it grows to the height of two or three feet, 

 and the flower which is about the size of a thimble, hangs in 

 the shape of a cap of liberty above a luxuriant growth of green 

 leaves. It is the Balsamina noli me, tangere of botanists, and 

 is the greatest favourite with the Humming-bird of all our other 

 flowers. In some places where these plants abound you may see 

 at one time ten or twelve Humming-birds darting about, and 

 fighting with and pursuing each other. About the twentieth 

 of September they generally retire to the south. I have, indeed, 

 sometimes seen a solitary individual on the twenty-eighth and 

 thirtieth of that month, and sometimes even in October; but 



