RED "THROATED HONEYSUCKER. ^ ^ sg^ 



or the Regenerated ; becaufe they believed it died annually, and wai 

 re-animated at the return of the flowers it fed on : that it fl-uck its 

 bill into the trunk of a tree, and remained lifelefs for fix months ; 

 when the vital powers re-migrated, and reftored to nature one of its 

 moft brilliant wonders » 



It flies with a fwiftnefs which the eye is incapable of following. Swiftness. 

 The motion of the wings is fo rapid as to be imperceptible to the 

 nicefl: obferver. Lightning is fcarcely more tranfient than its flight, 

 nor the glare more bright than its colors. It never feeds but upon Food, 



wing, fufpended over the flower it extrafts nourifl^ment from ; for 

 its only food is the honied juice lodged in the neftarium, which it 

 fucks through the tubes of its curious tongue. Like the Bee, hav- 

 ing exhaufl:ed the honey of one flower, it wanders to the next, in 

 fcarch of new fweets. It admires moft thofe flowers which have the 

 deepeft tubes. Thus the female Balfamine, and the Sczvltt Monarday 

 are particular favorites. Whofoever fets thofe plants before the win- 

 dow is fure to be vifited by multitudes of thefe diminutive birds. It 

 is a moft entertaining fight to fee them fwarming around the flowers, 

 and trying every tube of verticillated plants, by putting their bills 

 into every one which encircles the ftalk. If they find that their 

 brethren have been beforehand, and robbed the flower of the honey, 

 they will, in rage, pluck off, and throw it on the ground. 



The moft violent paffions animate at times their little bodies. Rage, 



They have often dreadful contefts, when numbers happen to difpute 

 pofleflion of the fame flower. They will tilt againft one another with 

 •fuch fury, as if they meant to transfix- their antagonifts with their 

 long bills.- During the fight, they frequently purfue the conquered 

 into the apartments of thofe houfes whofe windows are left open^ 

 take aturn round the room, as Flies do in England, and then fud- 

 denly regain the open- air. They are fearkfs of mankind; and in. 

 feeding will fufi'er people to come within two yards of them ; buf 

 on a nearer approach, , dart away with admirable fwiftnefs. 



Fernandez Oviedo., an author of great repute, fpeaks from his own 

 Mp-Owiege of the fpirited inftinft, even of this diminutive bird, in 



defence 



