212 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



4. One of the peculiarities which first strikes a stranger, 

 upon seeing one of these brilliant breathing gems, is the 

 immense power of wing, shown by the quickness of his 

 flight, also by the ease with which he balances himself in 

 the air, whether, foraging unmolested, he is feeding at the 

 flowers, or, attracted by curiosity, he is surveying one's 

 person. He comes so suddenly as to give no warning to 

 the eye ; we hear a buzz, see the bird near us stationary, 

 his form distinct, and when he leaves, so quick and sudden 

 is his flight that the eye can scarcely trace his pathway. 

 The muscles of his wings are more powerful and active, in 

 proportion to his size, than those of any other bird, and 

 the wings are very long and sharp. For this reason he can 

 easily hover, apparently motionless, for any length of time, 

 before a flower whose honey he wishes to obtain. He thus 

 sips the nectar of one flower after another for hours in suc- 

 cession, without showing any signs of weariness, or disturb- 

 ing in the least the most delicate blossom. 



5. If any one wishes to observe these birds and their 

 habits, let him, on a fine, pleasant morning, visit a cluster 

 of gooseberry bushes when in bloom, of whose honey they 

 are exceedingly fond, and he will probably find one or 

 more of them quietly searching the flowers for food. If 

 disturbed, lie will frequently rise to a considerable height 

 in an oblique direction, then dart down, almost with the 

 velocity of a bullet, past the place of annoyance, and rise 

 on the opposite side to an equal height ; then return by 

 reversing his course, and so repeat these sweeping move- 

 ments till he sufficiently expresses his disapprobation, 

 drives away his adversary, or retires in disgust. 



6. Their bills are all very slender and sharp. Most of 

 them are long, some are straight, many are curved down- 

 ward, and a few are curved upward. They all appear to 

 be adapted to the kind of flowers from which the birds 

 obtain their food. Their tongue is a slender sucking-tube, 



