NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD. 135 



to think the latter the case, as they seem to be busily 

 feeding at all times of the day, which would not be the 

 case, had they long flights to perform at that period." 



This humming-bird has generally been supposed 

 to live only on honey or liquid sweets, but Wilson 

 observes, " I can speak decisively on this subject, 

 having seen the humming-bird for half an hour at a 

 time darting after those little groups of insects that 

 dance in the air in a fine summer's evening, retiring 

 to an adjoining twig to rest, and renewing the attack 

 with a dexterity that sets all our other fly-catchers at 

 defiance. It is well known that they are particularly 

 fond of tubular flowers, where numerous small insects 

 resort, and there is every reason for believing that 

 they are as often in search of these insects as of honey, 

 and that the former compose at least as great a portion 

 of their usual sustenance as the latter." 



The Northern Humming-bird is three inches and 

 a half in length, and four and a quarter in extent ; the 

 whole back, upper part of the neck, sides, under the 

 wings, tail- co verts, and two middle feathers of the 

 tail, are of a rich golden green ; the tail and wings 

 are deep brownish purple ; the sides of the belly, and 

 belly itself, dusky white, mixed with green. But 

 what constitutes the chief ornament of this little bird, 

 is the splendour of the feathers of his throat, which, 

 when placed in a proper position, glow with all the 

 brilliancy of the ruby. These feathers are of singular 

 strength and texture, lying close together like scales, 

 and vary, when moved "before the eye, from a deep 



