HUMMING-BIRDS. 



329 



The Hum- 

 ming -Birds 



celebrated for 

 the metallic 

 lustre of their 

 plumage, as 

 well as for their 

 tiny dimen- 

 sions. They 

 inhabit Ameri- 

 ca and the ad- 

 jacent islands. 

 Their beak is 

 very long, 

 sometimes 

 straight and 

 so met i me s 

 bent, tubular, 

 and very slen- 

 der. Their 

 tongue is long, 

 extensible, and 

 divided into 

 two filaments. 

 Their wings 

 are proportion- 

 ately very long, 

 and their plu- 

 mage some- 

 times orna- 

 mented with 

 feathers as bril- 

 liant as pre- 

 cious stones. 

 They feed on 

 the nectar of 

 flowers, about 

 which they 

 may be seen 

 buzzingandba- 

 lancing them- 

 selves in the 

 air. They 



sometimes eat 

 small flies and 

 diminutive in- 

 sects found in 

 the flower - 

 bells. They 

 live in pairs 



FlG. 358. HfMMIXG-BlRUS. 







FIG. 359. HOOPOE. 



, 

 and defend their nest most courageously. 



