94 BIRDS IN GENERAL. 



forests, or gliding over the richest plains in the 

 most brilliant and gorgeous colours, and of the most 

 beautiful and delicate shapes. The parrots, the 

 crested pheasant, that " floating gem" the hum- 

 ming bird, and the singular but superb bird of 

 paradise, are very numerous. In very cold coun- 

 tries birds are much less plentiful, and consist 

 chiefly of water-fowl. These seek their support 

 in lakes and creeks of the sea, as the ground is 

 almost continually frozen or covered with snow, 

 and consequently does not yield any food. In 

 temperate countries there are a great variety of 

 birds, as some from hotter climates spend the sum- 

 mer there, and others the winter, from cold re- 

 gions. Many of the birds of these countries are 

 also song-birds, and fill the grove and forest with 

 the most delightful music. 



The vision of birds is in general very quick, 

 and of very wide range. The swallow, which, 

 feeds on small insects, catches them when on the 

 wing, and many of the rapid evolutions it makes 

 are for the purpose of seizing a prey too minute 

 to be seen by man. The hen, when surrounded 

 with her brood, will detect a hawk at a distance 

 far beyond our limit of sight ; and the redstart, 

 though perched on the top of a lofty tree, will 

 dart to the ground, and with unerring aim seize 

 upon the smallest insect. 



To guard the eyes against mischief when flit- 

 ting rapidly amidst thickets, and to screen them 

 from the glare of the sun, a very singular provision 



