98 HUMMING-BIRDS. 



Juan Fernandez.* Two species only extend far into 

 the northern continent of America. The one, the 

 ruff-necked humming-bird, (Selasphorus rufus, Swain- 

 son,) was discovered by Captain Cook in Nootka 

 Sound, and has been traced by Kotzebue to the 6l along 

 the western shores ; the other, the northern humming- 

 bird, (Trochilus colubris, Linnaeus,) so beautifully de- 

 scribed by Wilson, has been obtained from the plains 

 of the Saskachewan, and was found breeding by Mr 

 Drummond near the sources of the Elk River ; it is 

 know to reach as far north as the 57th parallel. 



The best accounts of the habits and economy of the 

 humming-birds are those given by Wilson and Audu- 

 bon, in their histories of the northern or ruby-throated 

 humming-bird ; and by Bullock, of several species 

 which are found in Mexico and in the island of 

 Jamaica. And from the little we have been able to 

 glean from other writers, there appears to exist great 

 similarity in their manners. They are of a lively 

 and active disposition, almost constantly on the wing, 

 and performing all their motions with great rapidity ; 

 their flight is in darts, and it is at this time, in a 

 brilliant sun, that the variations of their plumage are 

 displayed with the greatest advantage. 



" Each rapid movement gives a different dye ; 

 Like scales of burnish M gold they dazzling show, 

 Now sink to shade now like a furnace glow." 



* Trochilus Fernandensis, and T. Stokesii, King Reports 

 ofZool. Soc. for Jan. 1831 Mon. Berters, a French botanist, 

 remained on the island of Juan Fernandez to examine its vegetable 

 productions, and records that three species exist on it. 



