HUMMING-BIRDS. 65 



lamina rolled up, yet not so as to bring the edges 

 into actual contact. Near the tip, the outer edge 

 of each lamina ceases to be convoluted, but is 

 spread out, and split at the margin into irregular 

 points, directed backward. 



TIP OF ONE FILAMENT OF A HUMMING-BIRD'S TONGUE. 



The structure of the tongue is, therefore, essen- 

 tially the same as in the Sun-birds ; and it is 

 applied to the same purposes, the sucking up of 

 the nectar contained in flowers, and with it the 

 minute insects that are always congregated in 

 such situations. In searching these, however, the 

 Humming-bird hovers on his strong vibrating 

 wings in front of the blossom, while with his long 

 protruded tongue he probes its recesses ; yet not 

 unfrequently may he be seen to assume the man- 

 ner of his Oriental representative, and cling with 

 his little feet to a leaf or twig, while he rifles the 

 flowers. 



But Humming-birds are also expert fly-catchers, 

 and a great deal of their time is spent hovering in 

 the air in the midst of swarms of very minute 

 flies, snapping them up with many quick turns and 

 sudden contortions. On dissection, their stomachs 

 are usually found to be distended with insects. 



The TrocJiilidcB are confined to the New World; 

 and though the tropical regions of that continent, 

 and the lovely islands of the West Indies, are 

 their principal home, yet some species are found 

 to penetrate, at least in summer, to high latitudes 



