XXXIX. 

 THE HUMMING-BIRD. 



[HE Humming-Bird is a relation of the Sun- 

 Bird, but is rather different in his habits ; 

 for he hovers over the flower, and sucks 

 the juices, without settling upon it. 

 Poised in the air, he peeps cautiously, with his 

 sparkling eye, into the recesses of the flower, vibrat- 

 ing his wings so rapidly that you can hardly see 

 them. All the time, he makes a low, humming 

 sound, that is very pleasant to listen to, and that 

 seems to lull the insects within the flower to sleep. 

 Then out darts his long delicate tongue, and takes 

 them up, one after the other; and he finishes as 

 the Sun- Bird did, by sipping a little honey. 



