OTHER NEIGHBORS W THE TREES. 211 



HUMMING-BIRDS. 



1. The discovery of America opened up to the civilized 

 world many new objects of interest in the animal, vege- 

 table, and mineral kingdoms. Not the least in interest was 

 the discovery of an extensive group of birds, consisting of 

 several hundred species, whose diminutive size, quickness 

 of motion, boldness of demeanor, elegance of form, and 

 exquisite beauty of plumage attracted the attention and 

 secured the admiration of every lover of nature. 



2. The larger portion of these birds live in the West 

 Indies and the tropical regions of America. Some occupy 

 only a small island or district ; others, a narrow belt on 

 the side of a mountain : most do not extend their limits 

 beyond a few degrees of latitude, while a few are migratory, 

 and spend the summer in the temperate zone, but return 

 to the tropical regions for the winter. Their food consists 

 of honey and insects ; and, consequently, they must live 

 where flowers grow and insects abound. 



3. The Indians gave to these interesting little creatures 

 fanciful names that expressed the idea of sunbeams, sun- 

 angels, sun-gems, tresses of the day-star, murmuring-birds, 

 and the like. And naturalists have given to them names 

 equally fanciful, expressing the same or similar ideas, such 

 as brilliant birds, light-bearers, sun-seekers, flower-kissers, 

 honey-suckers, living meteors, and many others of similar 

 meaning. They derive their common name from the buz- 

 zing or humming sound which they make with their wings. 

 These vibrate so quickly as to be visible only as a semicir- 

 cular film on each side of the body. The sound made by 

 different species varies with the velocity of their wings. 

 That made by the vervain humming-bird resembles the 

 sound of a large bee, while that made by the polytmus re- 

 sembles the sound of a swiftly revolving wheel. 



