136 NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD. 



black to a fiery crimson and a burning orange. The 

 female is destitute of this ornament, which is white, 

 with all the other under parts, and the tip of the tail 

 feathers. The young birds have the under parts 

 brownish white, and are somewhat lighter in the 

 under parts. The males begin to acquire the red 

 feathers on the throat about autumn, but they are not 

 complete before the following season. 



The same ornithologist, to whom we have been so 

 much indebted for the history of this bird, has also 

 made it the subject of a poem, which we cannot now 

 omit. 



u When morning dawns, and the blessM sun again 

 Lifts his red glories from the eastern main, 

 Then round our woodbines, wet with glittering dews, 

 The flower-fed humming-bird his round pursues ; 

 Sips with inserted tube the honied blooms, 

 And chirps his gratitude as round he roams ; 

 While richest roses, though in crimson dress d, 

 Shrink from the splendour of his gorgeous breast. 

 What heavenly tints in mingled radiance fly ! 

 Each rapid movement gives a different die ; 

 Like scales of burnish M gold they dazzling show, 

 Now sink to shade now like a furnace glow ! ** 



