BEAUTY OF THE COLUMBIA. [CHAP. I. 



decoration upon his creatures. There can scarcely be 

 a doubt that many of the appendages to the plumage of 

 birds, not to say a word about brilliant colours, are 

 given not for any use, or to serve the performance of 

 any function in the economy of the creatures, but 

 solely for appearance sake, a fact of which they them- 

 selves manifest a consciousness. Innumerable instances 

 of this might be adduced, but a less well-known ex- 

 ample is seen in the brilliant assemblage of Humming- 

 birds collected by Mr. Gould, and now under the 

 course of illustration by that gentleman, with his usual 

 great artistic and ornithological ability. One, perhaps 

 several, species, in addition to the parts which usually 

 reflect the most dazzling and glancing hues, has the 

 very under tail-coverts metallic. In most birds, colours 

 so disposed would be little if at all observed ; but in these 

 Humming-birds the flight is so abrupt, and the motions 

 so sharply checked and reversed, very much by the 

 action of the tail, that the metallic feathers are sud- 

 denly seen, like a momentary star, which as suddenly 

 vanishes, and which marks, by its appearance and ex- 

 tinction, the sparkling turns in the zig-zag course 

 which the flashing bird pursues through the sun- 

 shine. 



And the Pigeons, too, have their amethystine necks, 

 and their metallic plumage, either whole or partial ; 

 sometimes a complete panoply of blazing scales, occa- 

 sionally a few patches of bronze and tinsel on the 

 wings. Crests, too, in others, are added to give grace 

 to the head, and voices, if not melodious, yet most 

 expressive, which is better far. In form and motion 

 we have everything that is charming and attractive, 

 either in repose or activity. Even in the individuals 



