THE MANGO HUMMING BIRD. 193 
of colour between the mosses and the attire 
of the bird forming an additional defence for it. 
The nest, which is composed of the finest grasses, 
forms, as it were, a bed about two inches thick, 
and is rendered additionally comfortable, from 
its soft inner lining of feathers. 
The male of this species has a very sweet song, 
though not protracted. Springing from the rock, 
it soars for about forty yards, then, after perform- 
ing a few evolutions, returns to the ground, dur- 
ing which time, its chaunt is begun and ended. 
Another, and one of the most interesting among 
the specimens of American Ornithology, is. the 
mango humming bird, emulating, in the splen- 
dour of its apparel, the gem-like lustre of that 
celestial pilgrim, the most beautiful among the 
feathered inhabitants of the Indian Isles, known 
as the bird of paradise. 
The mango humming bird: is,thus described. 
“Tn those warm climates,«where the bignonians 
and other tubular flowers that bloom throughout 
the year, and innumerable insects that sport in 
the sunshine, afford an abundance of food, these 
lively birds are the greatest ornaments 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, unless I resort to 
the most brilliant gems and the richest metals 
So rapid is their flight, that they seem to out 
