THE HUMMING-BIRD. 



169 



size of a hazel-nut The feathers on its wings 

 and tail are black ; but those on its body, and 

 under its wings, are of a greenish brown, 

 with a fine red cast, or gloss, which no silk or 

 velvet can imitate. It has a small crest on 

 its head, green at the bottom, and, as it were, 

 gilded at the top; and which sparkles in the 

 sun like a little star in the middle of its fore- 

 head. The bill is black, straight, slender, 

 and of the length of a small pin. The larger 

 humming-bird is nearly half as big as the com- 

 mon wren, and without a crest on its head; 

 but, to make amends, it is covered, from the 

 throat half way down the belly, with change- 

 able crimson-coloured feathers, that, in dif- 

 ferent lights, change to a variety of beautiful 

 colours, much like an opal. The heads of 

 both are small, with very little round eyes, as 

 black as jet. 



It is inconceivable how much these add to 

 the high finishing and beauty of a rich luxu- 

 rious western landscape. As soon as the sun 

 is risen, the humming-birds, of different kinds, 



rest of the under parts. The tail is about only half the 

 length, the feathers of the same broad form ; the outer 

 one of a yellowish, the others of a reddish coppery 

 lustre, with a slight indication of a darker shade at the 

 tips, but without any distinct bar. 



There seems a little uncertainty regarding the native 

 country of this bird. Shaw's specimens were said to 

 come from Peru ; and Lesson mentions the interior of 

 Brazil for those from which he took his drawings and 

 descriptions. 



The following represents the Topax-throated Hum- 

 ming -bird. 



This species is without any exception one of the most 

 splendid of the whole race ; the plumage in every part 

 is composed of the scaly formed feathers, which are al- 

 ways present when a metallic lustre prevails; and in 

 every position, its brilliant colours receive a variation oi 

 tint differing from that last seen, and superior in splen- 

 dour to any thing with which we could compare it. It 

 is a large species also, and in many ways is a most 

 interesting bird. The African form is naturally called 

 to our remembrance by the general appearance of it to 

 the Cyniridte, in which the shape of the gorget and tail 



VOL. II. 



are seen fluttering about <he flowers, without 

 ever lighting upon them. Their wings are 

 in such rapid motion, that it is impossible to 

 discern their colours, except by their glitter- 

 ing. They are never still but continually in 

 motion, visiting flower after flower, and ex- 

 tracting its honey as if with a kiss. For this 

 purpose they are furnished with a forky 

 tongue, that enters the cup of the flowers, 

 and extracts its nectared tribute. Upon this 

 alone they subsist. The rapid motion of 

 their wings brings out a humming sound, 

 from whence they have their name ; for what- 

 ever divides the air swiftly, must thus produce 

 a murmur. 



The nests of these birds are not less curious 

 than the rest ; they are suspended in the air, 

 at the point of the twigs of an orange, a 

 pomegranate, or a citron-tree ; sometimes even 

 in houses, if they find a small and convenient 

 twig for the purpose. The female is the 

 architect, while the male goes in quest of 

 materials; such as cotton, fine moss, and the 



leads still nearer. In its habits it is also curious, being 

 said to frequent the banks of rivers, skimming along 

 their surface after insects, and often perching on dried 

 twigs along their margins : in this there is an approxi- 

 mation to several groups. The length of this bird, not 

 including the long centre tail feathers, is five inches and 

 a half, these exceed the others by nearly three inches ; 

 the colours of the whole plumage of the body may be said 

 to be a rich brownish orange, in some lights appearing of 

 the deepest lake, and in others of a brilliant ruby colour, 

 tinted with golden; on the lower surface the golden 

 lustre is most prevalent, above, the deep shade and ruby 

 tint; the gorget is alternately of a topaz-yellow or 

 emerald green, and it is surrounded by a shade of nearly 

 velvet black, which gradually assumes a purple tint, and 

 shades into the colour of the body; the wings are very 

 long and powerful; the tail is above of a golden green 

 shaded with red, below of a bright chestnut; in form it 

 is rather rounded, and the two centre feathers make it 

 appear sometimes very lengthened, sometimes forked, 

 according to their position; the tarsi are feathered to the 

 division of the toes. The young differ in wanting the 

 long feathers in the tail, the two centre plumes of which 

 exceed the others by about one-eighth of an inch ; the 

 plumage of the upper parts is of a bright green, with the 

 ruby tints appearing at intervals; the under part has 

 more of the red colour, and is shaded with green and 

 bright orange; the gorget has not appeared, though the 

 space for it is clearly seen. The female is somewhat 

 less than the young males; the centre tail feathers are 

 slightly longer; the prevailing colour of the plumage is 

 brilliant emerald green, with metallic lustre, but which 

 is somewhat diminished by a gray tint which pervades 

 the whole; the gorget is marked by brown feathers, 

 which have a golden lustre when placed in the light, 

 but is not very distinctly defined; the vent is gray: the 

 outer tail feathers are of a dull green, the next pair are 

 of a brilliant violet, the others of a bright chestnut. 

 These beautiful birds are found in Cayenne and Guiana. 

 For works on humming-birds, the reader is referred 

 to three beautiful volumes by Lesson, containing 219 

 plates, and to the Naturalist's Library, by Sir William 

 Jardine, vols. I. and II. Edinburgh, 1833. Both 

 Wilson and Audubon have written well on the northern 

 humming-bird. 



