442 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



their tlii^ht, are so Insect-like. Tliey pass from l)ush to bush as if suspended 

 in the air, and pause over eath tlower, vil)ratin<^' their wings, in precisely the 

 same manner with the Sphinxes, and with the same humming sounds. 



The Might of the Humming-Jiird is of two kinds. One of these is used 

 for a horizontal movement, and is so rapid that one can hardly follow it 

 with the eye. This is aeconii)anied l)y a kind of hissing sound. The other 

 seems to keep the body in tlie air immovable, in one spot. For the latter 

 purpos*^- the l>ird assumes a position nearly vertical, and beats its wings with 

 great in ensity. These organs nmst vibrate all the more rapidly, because 

 tlie innuobility of the body re(|uires a shorter stroke, and therefore the more 

 frtMpuMitly repeated. Tlie ecpiilibrium of the body is preserved by the alter- 

 iiate up antl down strokes of the wings, no inconsiderable force being re- 

 ([uired to keep its immobility, besides that requisite for neutralizing tbe 

 Mei'_rlit of the bcxlv. 



The Hiinnning-liird is entirely aerial. They pass witb the rapidity of an 

 arrow, stop, rest for a few seconds on some small branch, and then sud- 

 denly dei)art with so much rapidity that we cannot trace its flight. Tliey 

 disappear as if by enchantment. Their life is one of feverish excitement. 

 Tiiey seem to live more intensely than any other being on our globe. From 

 morning to night they tra\erse tlie air in (piest of honeyed tlowei's. They 

 come like a flash of light, assume a vertical position without any support, 

 throw their tail forwanl, expanding it like a fan, vibrating their wings with 

 such ra]»idity that they l)econie absolutely invisible, plunging, at the same 

 time, their thread-like tongues to the bottom of some long corolla, and then 

 thev have 5J:i>Mt' as suddenly as thev came. Thev are never known to rest 

 on a branch ni order more at their leisure to plunge their tongue into the 

 tlower. Their life is too short for this delay ; they are in too great haste ; 

 they can only stop long enough to beat their wings before each flower for a 

 few seconds, but long enough to reach its bottom and to devour its inhabi- 

 tants. Wlien we take into consideration how entirelv aerial is their life, and 

 tlie prodigious relative force retpiisite to enable them to keep suspended in 

 the air during th( entire day, almost incessantly, either in rapid motion or 

 accomplishing the most violent vibrations, we can but be amazed at the 

 extraordinary powers of flight and endurance they manifest. 



The Humming-lJird enjoys even the most tropical heat, avoids shade, 

 and is easily overcome by cold. Though some travellers speak of having 

 met with these birds in the depths of forests, Saussure discredits their 

 statements, having never found any in such situations. They prefer open 

 flowery fields, meadows, gardens, and shrubbery, delightinjoj to glitter in 

 the sun's rays, and to mingle with the swarm of resplendent insects with 

 which tropical regions al)ound, and with the habits of which their own so 

 well accord. Nearly all live in the open sun, only a very few are more or 

 less cre])uscular and never to be seen except very early in the morning or in 

 the eveniniT twilight. 



