THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES, 



N^ 8. 



SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1836. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCniPTION OF THE PLATE THE HUMMING BlllbS. 



The genus Trocliilus itompriscs some of the smallest, but, at the same time, some of 

 the most beautiful of the feathered tribe. Observers of every description have been 

 struck with admiration at the elegance and variety of the tints which adorn them ; 

 but the extreme delicacy of their constitution generally unfits them for enduring the 

 variable climates of the temperate zone, or the restraints of confinement. They have 

 almost always died on the passage homewards; and their admirers, in this country, 

 are compelled to view only the preserved specimens in their cabinets, or such represen- 

 tations as we now offer. 



All the objects on the accompanying plate are drawm the exact size of Nature; and 

 we cannot fail to observe the striking contrast botween the Gigantic Humming Bird, 

 No. 7 (T. Gigas), which is about the size of a Sparrow, and the Least Humming 

 Birds, Nos. 8 and 9 (T. Mlnimns), The latter scarcely surpasses the humble bee in 

 magnitude, and is the smallest of Birds. 



Those persons who have not seen them, numerous as Butterflies, sporting in the 

 3unny prairies of Amciica, would hesitate at first to believe that Birds of so minute a 

 construction could exist. Yet we find the same perfection in the smallest as well as 

 in the largest of Nature's works, and a structure prevails in these minute objects 

 equally complicated with those of the Ostrich and Eagle. 



It was long supposed, as they resemble the Butterfly in fluttering from flower to 

 flower, that they also partook of the same food, and subsisted on honey. It seems 

 now to be clearly ascertained that they do not feed on honey, but on the insects which 

 prey upon it. This might have readily been discovered upon comparing the structure 

 of their bills, which are long, pointed, and altogether incapable of sucking up a fluid, 

 or saccharine matter, with the haustellum or sucker, used by certain insects for that 

 purpose. 



During their flight, they sometimes keep their bodies motionless in the air for hours 

 together, emitting a loud humming noise, from which they derive their name. This 

 sound is not emitted by the birds, but is occasioned solely by the exceedingly rapid 

 vibration of their wings. They are generally confined to the tropical climates of 

 America, although they have been found as far south as the Straits of Magellan, and 

 as far north as the Elk River. They frequent the woods as well as prairies ; and are 

 often observed to enter the houses of the Americans in pursuit of Insects, sometimes 

 venturing to insert their delicate bills into a bouquet of flowers, and rapidly retreat- 

 ing on being approached. 



Figs, 1 and 2. The Tufted-necked Hamming Bird (Trocluhis Ornatvs)^ Male and 

 Female. — This species derives its name from the singular tuft of feathers which sur- 

 rotmds ±he neck of the male, but of which the female is altogether deprived. 



Fig. 3. The Azure Blue Humming Bird (T. Lazulus) is distinguished by the 

 brilliant hue of its breast. 



Fig. 4. The Harlequin Humming Bird (T. Multicolor) is so smgular and fantas- 

 tic in its colours, that the specimen in the British Museum was long suspected to have 

 been formed of feathers belonging to different species. This is now generally believed 

 not to have been the case. 



Fig. 3. The Ruby-crested Humming Bird (T, Moschitus) is very common in the 

 West Indies and in tropical America. 



Fig. 6. Gould's Humming Bird (T. Gnuldii) possesses one of those singular tufts 

 round the neck, which the French term Coquets^ and have been not unaptly compared 

 to the ruffs worn by ladies during the age of Queen Elizabeth. 



Fig. 7. The Gigantic Humming Bird (T. Gigas). — This is the Patagonian of the 

 Humming Bird genus. In strength and size it is equalled by none. 



Fig. 8. and 9. The Least Humming Birds (T. Minimus), Male and Female, re- 

 semble the preceding only in the dullness of their colours, which are much inferior 

 to their congeners. Yet we view these little creatures with singidar interest, form- 

 ing, as they do, one of the limits, in regard to size, of a numerous and interesting 

 class of animated beings. 



Fig. 10. The White Striped Humming Bird (T, Mesolettcus) differs but slightly 

 from-Fig. 11, the Evening Humming Bird {T. Vesper). Both these species have 

 but a rudimentary tuft around the neck, which however is of a brilhant hue. 



Fig. 12. The Tri-coloured Humming Bird (T. Tricolor) appears to be surpassed 

 in beauty by few of its tribe. 



Remarkable Peculiarity of the Female Ass — It is universally known that 

 many animals will continue to give milk not only after the young are removed, but 

 even for years, when the impression of having had young must have been entirely 

 forgotten. The Cow and Goat arc instances of this kind; but in the Ass the secre- 

 tion of milk is not continued after the mother has lost the impression of her foal's 

 existence. This is a fact so well known to the keepers of Asses, that whenever an 

 Ass's foal dies, tliey take every means in their power to keep up the impression, in 

 the mother, of the foal being still alive, to keep her in milk. For this purpose they 

 take off the skin of the foal and preserve it, so that it may be occasionally thrown 

 over the back of another foal, and smellod by the mother, more particularly at the 

 time they are milking her. The Ass, under the deception of having her own foal, 

 gives down her milk, and the secretion is carried on as usual ; but if this artifice be 

 neglected she soon goes dry. To ascertain this fact more accurately, the celebrated 

 Mr John Hunter put it to the test of experiment. He took an Ass, in milk, and 

 kept her apart from her foal every night, but had the mother milked in the morning 

 in presence of the foal. This was done for more than a month, without there being 

 any diminution in the morning's milk. The foal was then taken away altogether, 

 and the mother was milked instead of being sucked by the foal, particularly in the 

 evening, at the same hour at which the foal had been taken from her, and again in 

 the morning at the usual hour. The millt taken in the morning was always compared 

 with that taken in the morning before, but in three mornings the quantity was lessened; 

 and the fifth morning there was hardly any. The foal was then restored to her; but 

 she would not allow it to suck. Tlio experiment was repeated with similar results. 



The Canarv Bian. — Tlio Canary Bird is remarkable for its tractability and intel- 

 ligence, as an instance of which the following anecdote may be given: — A bird- 

 catcher in Prussia, who had rendered himself famous for educating and calling forth 

 the talents of the feathered tribe, had a Canary Bird, which was introduced by the 

 owner to a large party at Cloves, to amuse them with his wonderful feats. The 

 Canary being produced, the owner harangued him in the following manner, placing 

 him upon his fore-finger: — *' Bijou (jewel), you are now in the presence of persons of 

 great sagacity and honour ; take heed, therefore, that you do not deceive the expec- 

 tations they have conceived of you from the world's report. You have got laurels ; 

 beware of their withering: in a word, deport yourself like the bijou of Canary Birds, 

 as you certainly are," All this time the bird seemed to listen, and indeed placed 

 himself in the true attitude of attention. He sloped his head to the ear of the man, 

 then distinctly nodded twice, when his master had left off speaking; and if ever notls 

 were intelligible and promissory, these were of that nature. " That's good," said 

 the master, pulling off his hat to the bird. ** Now let us see if yovi are a Canary of 

 honour? Give us a tune." The Canary sang. " Pshaw! that's too harsh : tis the 

 note of a raven with a hoarseness upon him — something pathetic." The Canary 

 whistled as if his little throat was changed to a lute. " Faster," says the man; '* slower 

 — very well. What the plague is this little foot about, and this little head? No wonder 

 you ai*e out, Mr Bijou, when you forget your time. That's a jewel; Bravo! bravo! 

 my little man." All that he was ordered, or reminded of, did he to admiration. His 

 head and foot beat time; humoured the variations both of tone and movement; and 

 the sound was a just echo to the sense, according to the strictest laws of poetical, 

 and (as it ought to be) of musical composition. " Bravo! bravo!" re-echoed from 

 all parts of the room. The musicians declared the Canary was a greater master of 

 music than any of their band. " And do you not show your sense of this civility, 

 sir?" cried the bu:d-catcher with an angry air. The Canary bowed most respectfully, 

 to the great delight of the company. His next achievement was going through the 

 martial exercises with a straw gun ; after which, " My poor Bijou," said the owner, 

 ** thou hast had hard work, and must be a little weary: a few performances more, 

 and thou shalt repose. Show the ladies to make a curtsey." The bird here crossed 

 his taper legs, and sunk and rose with an easy grace that would have put half our 

 subscription assembly belles to the blush. '* That s my fine bird! and now a bow, 

 head and foot corresponding." Here the striplings for ten miles round London 

 might have blushed also. " Let us finish with a hornpipe, my brave little fellow ; 

 that's it, keep it up, keep it up." The activity, glee, spirit, and accuracy with which 

 this last order was obeyed, wound up the applause (in which all the musicians joined, 

 as well with their instruments as their clappings) to the highest pitch of admiration. 

 Bijou himself seemed to feel the sacred thirst of fame, and shook his little plumes, 

 and carolled an lo ptcajt, that sounded like the conscious notes of victory. ** Thou 

 hast done all my biddings bravely," said the master, caressing his feathered servant; 

 " now then take a nap, while I take thy place." Hereupon the Canary went into a 

 counterfeit slumber, so like the effect of Morpheus, first shutting one eye, then tho 

 other, then nodding, then dropping so much on one side that the hands of several of 



