122 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



Hummingbird. Trochilus coluhris (?). 1786, June 

 10. On examining y^ viscerse I was surprized to find y® 

 heart so large as to be nearly equal in bulk to all y' other 

 viscersB. The hepatic gland was large in proportion to y® 

 body of y"' animal. The intestines were remarkably short. 

 The gizzard contained a number of very small insects, 

 partly disolved, y*' wings of which remained entire and 

 appeared like those of misquetters. There were some 

 extremely small seeds & a number of shinning particles? 

 of a bright yellow, very minute, & as hard as stones, some- 

 what resembling ising-glass. 



This bird flew into y" house at a window, <fe was caught 

 alive. The greatest pains were taken to preserve it alive. 

 It was put into a small open-worked basket, but sufficiently 

 large for y*^ bird. It fluttered violently, for some time, 

 from side to side, when it appeared to be languishing & 

 was taken out & set at liberty in y*^ room, but it soon 

 died, living only three hours after it was taken. 



Snow flea. Podura nivalis. 1787, Jan. 22, They 

 frequently appear in the winter on the top of y^ snow, when 

 y*" wind comes southerdly & snow gives, after a cold turn. 

 Large spots will sometimes be black with them. They 

 are commonly very sprightly. In woodland they aboinid 

 most, but are often in y*' high ways, in great multitudes. 

 They appear all at once, generally a little before noon, & 

 disappear towards night — are rarely seen for more than 

 one or two days — sometimes appear on very cold days. 

 I have sometimes seen them in great numbers on banks of 

 snow 6 or 8 feet deep, appearing suddenly about 10 or 11 

 o'clock & before night totally disappeared. The common 

 people say they portend a thaw, & that y'' snow is going 

 away, but it is not always the case. I have never known 

 them produce y" least sensation b}' biting, when continued 

 ever so long on y" naked legs, & conclude they do not 



