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THE MANGO HUMMING BIRD. 



Trochilus mango, Linn. 



PLATE CLXXXIV. Male and Female. 



I "am indebted to my learned friend the Reverend John' Bachman 

 for this species of Humming Bird, of Avhich he received a specimen from 

 our mutual friend Dr Stuobel, and afterwards presented it to me. 



" Hitherto," says he, " it has been supposed that only one species 

 of Humming Bird (the Trochilus Coluhris) ever visits the United States. 

 Although this is a genus consisting of upwards of a hundred species, all 

 of which are peculiar to the Continent of America and the adjoining 

 islands, yet with few exceptions they are confined to the tropics. In those 

 warm climates, where the Bignonias and other tubular flowers that bloom 

 throughout the year, and innumerable insects that sport in the sun-shine, 

 afford an abundance of food, these lively birds are the greatest orna- 

 ments of the gardens and forests. Such in most cases is the brilliancy 

 of their plumage, that I am unable to find apt objects of comparison un- 

 less I resort to the most brilliant gems and the richest metals. So rapid 

 is their flight that they seem to outstrip the wind. Almost always on 

 the wing, we scarcely see them in any other position. Living on the 

 honeyed sweets of the most beautiful flowers, and the minute insects con- 

 cealed in their coroUas, they come to us as etherial beings, and it is not 

 surprising that they should have excited the wonder and admiration of 

 mankind. 



" It affords me great pleasure to introduce to the lovers of Natural 

 History a second species of Humming Bird as an inhabitant of the United 

 States. The specimen which is now in my possession, was obtained by 

 Dr Strobe L at Key West in East Florida. He informed me that he had 

 succeeded in capturing it from a bush where he had found it seated, ap- 

 parently wearied after its long flight across the Gulf of Mexico, probably 

 from some of the West India Islands, or the coast of South America. 

 Whether this species is numerous in any part of Florida, I have had no 

 means of ascertaining. The interior of that territory, as its name indi- 

 cates, is the land of flowers, and consequently well suited to the pecuhar 

 habits of this genus ; and as it has seldom been visited by ornithologists. 



