116 HUMMING BIRD. 
mage. Though this interesting and beautiful ge.ius of birds compre- 
hends upwards of seventy species, all of which, with a very few ex- 
ceptions, are natives of America and its ac jacent islands, it is yet sin- 
gular that the species now before us should be the only one of its tribe 
that ever visits the territory of the United States. 
According to the observations of my friend Mr. Abbot, of Savannah, 
in Georgia, who has been engaged these thirty years in collecting and 
drawing subjects of natural history in that part of the country, the Hum- 
ming Bird makes its first appearance there, from the south, about the 23d 
of March, two weeks earlier than it does in the county of Burke, sixty 
miles higher up the country towards the interior, and at least five 
weeks sooner than it reaches this part of Pennsylvania. As it passes 
on to the northward, as far as the interior of Canada, where it is seen 
in great numbers,* the wonder is excited how so feebly constructed 
and delicate a little creature can make its way over such extensive 
regions of lakes and forests, among so many enemies, all its superiors 
in strength and magnitude. But its very minuteness, the rapidity of 
its flight, which almost eludes the eye, and that admirable instinct. 
reason, or whatever else it may be called, and daring courage, whic} 
Heaven has implanted in its bosom, are its guides and protectors 
In these we may also perceive the reason why an all-wise Providence 
has made this little hero an exception to a rule which prevails almost 
universally through nature, viz., that the smallest species of a tribe 
are the most prolific. The Eagle lays one, sometimes two, eggs; the 
Crow, five ; the Titmouse, seven or eight; the small European Wren, 
fifteen; the Humming Bird two: and yet this latter is abundantly 
more numerous in America than the Wren is in Europe. 
About the 25th of April, the Humming Bird usually arrives in 
Pennsylvania, and, about the 10th of May, begins to build its nest. 
This is generally fixed on the upper side of a horizontal branch, not 
among the twigs, but on the body of the branch itself. Yet 1 have 
known instances where it was attached by the side to an old moss- 
grown trunk ; and others where it was fastened on astrong rank stalk, 
or weed, in the garden; but these cases are rare. In the woods, it 
very often chooses a white oak sapling to buildon; and in the orchard. 
or garden, selects a pear-tree for that purpose. The branch is sel- 
increased in their numbers; they form a large and closely-connected group, but 
show a considerable variety of form and character, and have been divided into 
different genera. ‘They may be said to be strictly confined to the New World, 
with her islands ; and although other countries possess many splendid and closely- 
allied forms, “ with gemmed frontlets and necks of verdant gold,” which have been 
by some included, none we consider can properly range with any of those found 
in this division of the world. In India and the Asiatic continent, they may be 
represented by Cereba, &c.; in Africa, by Nectarinia and Cyniris ; and in Aus- 
tralia aud in the Southern Pacific, by Meliphaga, Myrzomela, &c. Europe pos- 
sesses no direct prototype. 
The second northeru species alluded to was discovered by Captain Cook in 
Nootka Sound, and first described by Dr. Latham, as the Ruffed-necked Hum- 
ming Bird. Mr. Swainson introduces it in the Northern Zoology, under his genus 
Selasphorus. It ranges southwards to Real clel Monte, on the table-land of Mex- 
ico. — Ep. 
* Mr. M’Kenzie speaks of seeing a “ beautiful Humming Bird” near the head 
of the Unjigah, or Peace River, in lat. 54 deg., but has not particularized the 
species. 
