HUMMING-BIRDS. 157 



ming-bird, is about the size of the common martin. 

 Little idea of the brilliancy of their colouring can 

 be conveyed by description, as we have before 

 observed ; and yet the very reading of such ex- 

 quisite hues excites the imagination, and makes 

 a bright vision of these gleaming creatures float 

 before our eyes. Here is one, the amethyst 

 humming-bird: " throat and part of the neck 

 brilliant amethyst, changing into purple brown." 

 Here is the Surinam humming-bird : " green 

 gold above, beneath greyish white ; crescent of 

 red on the breast." Here is another from Nootka 

 Sound : " head rich variable green and gold, 

 ruby-coloured ruff round the neck." Now look 

 at the superb humming-bird : " crown of head 

 sky-blue ; throat brilliant scarlet ; back, wings, 

 and tail, gold green ; pale beneath." Some of 

 these beautiful creatures have splendid tufts on 

 their heads. One has a crest of emerald green : 

 another, of the brightest glossy blue : another, a 

 large cluster of violet plumes : another has a 

 gold tuft over each eye. Are not your eyes 

 dazzled by these brilliant colours ? Truly we 

 could fancy ours are while we write of them. 



The flight of these little birds is so rapid, that 

 the motion of the wings cannot be perceived ; 

 and when the bird is hovering in the air, it ap- 

 pears to be quite immoveable. The quick motion 



