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XA TURA L HIS TO R Y. 



rivers- I have seen Humming birds come out of the forest and remain a long time on the wing. now~ 

 statiouary, now darting about with the greatest rapidity, imitating in a limited space the evolutions 

 of their companions the Goatsuckers, and evidently for the same end and purpose." 



Wilson, the poet-naturalist, observes of the North American species as follows : " Nature in 

 every department of her works seems to delight in variety, and the present subject is almost as 

 singular for its minuteness, beauty, want of song, and manner of feeding, as the Mocking Bird is for 

 unrivalled excellence of note and plainness of plumage. This is one of the few birds that are 

 universally beloved, and amidst the sweet dewy serenity of a summer's morning his appearance 

 amongst the arbours of honeysuckles and beds of flowers is truly interesting. 



'When morning dawns, and the blest sun again 



Lifts his red glories from the Eastern main, 



Then through 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 drest, 

 Shrink from the splendour of his gorgeous breast, 

 What heavenly tints in mingling radiance fiy ! 

 Each rapid movement gives a different dye : 

 Like scales of burnished gold they dazzling show, 

 Now sink to shade, now to a furnace glow? " 



CHESTED HUMMING JilllD. 



PRINTED BY CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED, LA BELLE SAUVAGE, LONDON, E.C- 



