Tt 
The Natural Hiftory of the Book TIL. 
Months, hath been varioufly reprefented by moft Authors of Natural 
Hiftory. ; 
Some have, with great feeming Probability, attributed their State of 
Infenfibility, or at leaft their Abfence at that time, to the wife Difpenfa- 
tion of Providence, in making thefe Birds. incapable of any of the Fun- 
ions of Life, at a Seafon of the Year when they could not be fupplied 
with their daily and proper Food, which confifts chiefly of Pond-flies, 
Butterflies, and Bees. 
This ingenious Hypothefis hath a great Appearance of Truth, and is 
indeed the beft that can be given in a Northern Climate, where it is evi- 
dent that their Food can only be found in Summer Months: But this 
their reclufe Life, from Oéfober to March, is no lefs evident, than it is 
almoft general in this Ifland ;. in which Months their Prey is no lefs 
plentiful, and the Weather but very little colder, than in our Summer : 
Yet they retire to their Holes in the Rocks, and do not appear during 
thefe Months, except in very fmall Numbers. 
The SuGAR-BIRD. 
HIS derives its Name from its frequenting and picking up the 
loofe Sugar about the Sugar-curing Houfes, and elfewhere. 
The SpARROW. 
(i largeft Sparrow differs very little from thofe in England, being 
of a pale reddifh Lead-colour, Four Inches long from the Bill to 
the Feet, extended; and Seven Inches over the Wings, from the Extre- 
mity of one to the Extremity of the other. 
Its Bill is very ftrong and fharp-pointed ; its Legs blackifh ; and its 
Feet have Three Claws before, and One behind. 
The LessER SPARROW. 
HIS likewife, called the Tinker-Sparrow, differs very little from 
the former, except in Bignefs ; this now defcribed being lefs. 
The HuMMING-BIRD. 
HIS Bird derives its Name from the humming Noife it makes as 
it flies. 
Pliny juftly obferveS, Matura nufguam magis quam in minimis tota eff : 
This is fufficiently evinced in the Make and Qualities of this, which is the 
{malleft of Birds ; for what it wants in Strength and Bignefs, is fufficiently 
_made up in its Swiftnefs in Flying, and its Dexterity in making ufe of its 
_fharp Bill ; by which means it is capable of overcoming the Jargeft and 
ftrongeft Bird that flies in thefe Parts of the World. 
This | 
