394f CLASS AVES. 



Nature has confined to America this one of her chefd'oeuvres. 

 She has been unusually prodigal of her favours to this little 

 race. The brilliancy of their colours, and the elegance of 

 their forms, are but ill conveyed by description. The Indians, 

 struck with the fire and splendour of their hues, which shine 

 >vith the united radiance of gems and gold, have given them the 

 expressive name of hairs of the sun. These colours have the 

 property of presenting a variety of diiferent shades, according 

 to the direction of the light. They all employ the same 

 materials in the construction of their nests ; most of them 

 place it in similar situations, and the eggs are never more 

 than two in number : the male and female work at the nest, and 

 partake the labour of incubation. The nest is composed of 

 various sorts of cotton, or of a silken down, collected from 

 flowers : its texture is so strong and close, that it has the con- 

 sistence of a soft and thick skin ; it is usually placed on a 

 branch, or attached to a single twig. 



Their flight is continuous, humming, and so rapid, that the 

 motion of the wings is imperceptible ; when the bird hovers 

 in the air, it appears completely immovable ; it is observed 

 to rest some instants before a flower, and then dart like an 

 arrow to another, plunging its tongue into the bosom of all 

 which it visits. 



These birds never walk, or place themselves on the ground. 

 They pass the night, and the heat of the day, perched on a 

 branch, and often on a thick one. In general, their cries are 

 never heard, but when they quit one plant, or tree in flower, 

 to seek another. Their cry resembles the syllables te-re, more 

 or less strong and sharp. They are solitary ; and a single 

 one on a tree is never approached by the others ; still they 

 will sometimes assemble, hovering about in great numbers, 

 and crossing each other with excessive rapidity, above plants 

 and flowering shrubs. They fight desperately, but disappear 

 before one can discover the result of the combat. They do not 

 exhibit less courage in attacking other birds which approach 



