64 THE HUMMING-BIRD. 



twig, and are thus secure from the assaults of the monkey or the 

 snake. They are formed of the fine fibres of vegetables care- 

 fully combined with cotton and moss, and in shape and size re- 

 semble half a hen's egg. The eggs of the humming-bird are of 

 a clear white, with a few yellow specks, and of the size of a 

 small pea. The male and the female alternately perform the 

 office of incubation. The young when first hatched are entirely 

 naked, but in a few days a fine down appears, which is gradually 

 converted into that beautiful clothing which renders this bird an 

 object of admiration. 



The humming-bird was formerly in high esteem among the 

 Indians, for the ornament which its plumage added to their dress 

 The mode of taking these birds is chiefly by bird-lime daubed in 

 the places where they haunt ; and they are now caught chiefly 

 for the purpose of selling them to Europeans as curiosities. 



Mr. Latham, in his Synopsis, informs us, that his friend, Cap- 

 tain Davies, kept some of these birds alive for four months, by 

 the following expedient. " He made an exact representation of 

 some of the tubular flowers, with paper fastened round a tobacco- 

 pipe, and painted them w r ith the proper colours : these were 

 placed, in the order of nature, in the cage in which the little 

 creatures were confined : the bottoms of the tubes were filled 

 with a mixture of brown sugar and water, as often as emptied ; 

 and he had the pleasure of seeing them perform every action ; 

 for they soon grew familiar, and took this nourishment in the 

 same manner as when ranging at large." 



We have now exhibited to view a selection of the most curious 

 objects that are found among this smaller race of volatiles, of 

 which the distinctions are too numerous for the examination of 

 the most accurate and indefatigable ornithologist. From con- 

 templating the musical powers of the nightingale, the lark, and the 

 thrush, and the beautiful plumage of the goldfinch, the bullfinch, 

 and the humming-bird, besides the wonders displayed in an end- 

 less variety of others ; the mind becomes deeply impressed with 

 a sense of the diversifying energy of Nature, communicated to 

 it by its Divine Author. 



