restlessness did not permit ine to gratify my desire for a lengthened observation, and after vainly 

 waiting for some time in the hope of its returning, I continued my walk under the high trees to another 

 part of the grounds, where I was again gratified by seeing my little friend dart off from within a few 

 feet of me : in this shady retreat it passed from shrub to shrub, now and then perching on some bare twig 

 to rest in a state of quietude, or to preen its wings before again darting' off to examine the flowers on the 

 more lofty branches. The almost total absence of Humming-birds around Philadelphia proved to me that 

 I was still too early for them, the lateness of the season of 1857 having retarded their movement, and 

 the regularity of their arrival being evidently dependent upon the state of the trees and consequent supply 

 of food ; I therefore determined to proceed farther south to Washington, where, in the gardens of the 

 Capitol, I had the pleasure of meeting with them in great numbers : in lieu, then, of the single individual in 

 Bartram's garden, I was now gratified by the sight of from fifty to sixty on a single tree, and had an ample 

 opportunity of observing these living gems, and of noticing their extraordinary movements and aerial evolu- 

 tions to my heart's content. They were more amicably disposed than they are usually said to be. Disport- 

 ing round the reddish flowers of a species of chestnut termed Buck-eye, both males and females were 

 busily engaged in examining the blossoms, ever and anon retiring to some shady branches for the purpose 

 of rest or to plume themselves. To say that these birds, of which several hundreds were to be seen within 

 the area of as many yards, were in this instance not amicably disposed towards each other, would be 

 untrue ; a little brush now and then, and an occasional tilting-match between two males, certainly did 

 occur, but the greater number w^ere evidently too much occupied in the search for food to waste time in 

 fighting. I suspect that the pugnacity of the males so graphically described by Wilson principally occurs 

 during the breeding season, when their fury is said to have no bounds. My scientific friend Dr. Baird, 

 who was with me at the time, will, I am sure, confirm what I have said with regard to the numbers seen on 

 this occasion. 



Having now observed the bird in a state of nature, my next object was to obtain living examples for more 

 close examination, and through the kindness of Baron Osten-Sacken, the nephew of the great General, a 

 member of the Russian diplomatic corps at Washington, and an excellent entomologist, a specimen was 

 soon procured for me in one of the conservatories of the city, and great was my delight in taking posses- 

 sion of the little captive. A small insect gauze net, about six inches in diameter, distended by a light 

 hoop, was soon manufactured for its reception, and, although sadly buffeted about, the bird, within an hour 

 of its capture, readily took sugar and water from a spoon held in the hand : this boldness led me to hope 

 that it would soon become familiarized with its little domicile. I accordingly suspended it from a button 

 of my coat, and carried it about with me wherever I went, offering it every half-hour a small bottle filled with 

 sugar and water, into which it thrust its long bill through the gauze bag, and pumped up the fluid through its 

 more lengthened tubular tongue. In this way it travelled with me for two days across the Alleghany Moun- 

 tains, and would doubtless have continued to do well, had I not, at the end of a dusty and tremendously 

 jolting ride, given it a bath to free it from the dirt which had accumulated on its tail and wings during the 

 journey, from the effects of which it sickened and died. In recording my obligations to Baron Osten-Sacken, 

 it must not be supposed that I am unmindful of the attentions rendered me with the same object by every 

 one at Washington, including His Excellency the President, our own minister. Lord Napier, Mr. Russell, 

 and others. 



A few days' travelling by way of Ohio and Lake Erie brought me to Canada. At the " Falls " the 

 "Hummers" had but just arrived, and only a few males were to be seen ; at Toronto they were still fewer 

 in number. At one p.m. on the 5th of June, when passing down the St. Lawrence, I observed a fine male 

 cross the bows of the vessel from the southern to the northern shore near the Long Sault Rapid ; it was 

 evidently migrating. In the garden of G. C. Tunstall, Esq., opposite St. Ann's Rapids, Bout-de-l'Ile, 

 near Montreal, rendered classical by Moore's well-known Canadian Boat-song, the Humming-birds on 

 the 8th of June were very abundant, even flitting about the lilac trees which overshadowed the porch at 

 the house where, Mrs. Tunstall informed me, Moore sat and composed his celebrated song ; and I feel that 

 I should be wanting in courtesy were I not thus publicly to acknowledge my obligations to this kind lady 

 for permission to shoot two of these little tenants of her garden, which, when informed they were required 

 for a scientific purpose, she readily accorded ; but at the same time assured me that on no other account 

 would she have allowed one of these little wanderers to be destroyed, for they were by her both cherished 

 and beloved. 



Having accomplished all that I could expect to do, during so short a visit, with regard to observing the 

 TrocMlm Colubris in a state of nature, a strong desire prompted me to attempt the bringing of living 

 examples across the Atlantic ; and upon this desire becoming known to Sidney Augustus Schiefflin, Esql, 

 of Madison Square, New York, that gentleman very obligingly presented me with a pair, male and female, 

 then living in his house, in perfect health, in the finest state of plumage. My greatest anxiety was to get 

 them past the Banks of Newfoundland in safety, where the thermometer frequently falls below the freezing- 

 point. Through the kindness of Captain Shannon, who afforded me every facility, this was achieved, and 

 they reached the shores of England; one of them, however, unfortunately died as we came up the Channel ; 

 the other reached London, and lived for two days at my house in Broad Street. During the voyage 

 they were fed with syrup made of sugar and water, with the trifling addition of the yelk of an unboiled 

 egg as a substitute for their animal food. 



