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cannot be compared to this jewel of nature. 

 Her miniature productions are ever the most 

 wonderful ; she has placed it in the order of 

 birds, at the bottom of the scale of magnitude ; 

 but all the talents that are only shared amongst 

 the others, she has bestowed profusely on this 

 little favourite. The emerald, the ruby, and 

 the topaz, sparkle in its plumage, which is never 

 soiled by the dust of the ground. It is incon- 

 ceivable how much these brilliant birds add to 

 the high finished beauty of the western land- 

 scape. No sooner is the sun risen, than nu- 

 merous kinds are seen fluttering abroad ; their 

 wings are so rapid in motion, that it is impossible 

 to discern their colour, except by their glitter- 

 ing ; they are never still, but continually visit- 

 ing flower after flower, and extracting the 

 honey. For this purpose they are furnished 

 with a forked tongue, which enters the cup of 

 the flower, and enables them to sip the nectared 

 tribute ; upon this alone they subsist. In their 

 flight they make a buzzing noise, not unlike a 

 spinning wheel, from whence they have their 

 name. 



The nests of these birds are not less curious 

 than their form ; they are suspended in the air 



