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NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD. 



sunbeams, droops and soon dies. A very beautiful 

 male was brought me this season (1809,) which I put 

 into a wire cage, and placed in a retired shaded part 

 of the room. After fluttering about for some time, 

 the weather being uncommonly cool, it clung to the 

 wires, and hung in a seemingly torpid state for a 

 whole forenoon. No motion whatever of the lungs 

 could be perceived, on the closest inspection ; though 

 at other times this is remarkably observable ; the eyes 

 were shut, and when touched by the finger, it gave 

 no signs of life or motion. I carried it out to the open 

 air, and placed it directly in the rays of the sun, in a 

 sheltered situation. In a few seconds, respiration 

 became very apparent ; the bird breathed faster and 

 faster, opened its eyes, and began to look about, with 

 as much seeming vivacity as ever. After it had com- 

 pletely recovered, I restored it to liberty ; and it flew 

 off to the withered top of a pear-tree, where it sat for 

 some time dressing its disordered plumage, and then 

 shot off like a meteor. 



" The flight of the humming-bird from flower to 

 flower, greatly resembles that of a bee ; but is so much 

 more rapid, that the latter appears a mere loiterer to 

 him. He poises himself on the wing, while he thrusts 

 his long slender tubular tongue into the flowers in 

 search of food." And Mr Audubon adds> " during 

 their migration they pass in long undulations. I have 

 not, however, been able to assure myself whether they 

 migrate during the day or by night, but am inclined 



