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THE MANGO HUMMING-BIRD. 



-hTRocHiLus mango, Linn. 

 PLATE CCLI.— Males and Female. 



I am indebted to my learned friend the Reverend John Bachman for 

 this species of Humming-bird, of which he received a specimen from our 

 mutual friend Dr. Strobel, and afterwards presented it to me. 



"Hitherto," says he, "it has been supposed that only one species of 

 Humming-bird (the Trochilus Colubris) ever visits the United States. 

 Although this is a genus consisting of upwards of a hundred species, all of 

 which are peculiar to the Continent of America and the adjoining islands, 

 yet with few exceptions they are confined to the tropics. In those warm 

 climates, where the Bignonias and other tubular flowers that bloom through- 

 out the year, and innumerable insects that sport in the sun-shine, 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 outstrip the wind. Almost always on the wing, we scarcely see them in 

 any other position. Living on the honeyed sweets of the most beautiful 

 flowers, and the minute insects concealed in their corollas, they come to us 

 as etherial beings, and it is not surprising that they should have excited the 

 wonder and admiration of mankind. 



"It affords me great pleasure to introduce to the lovers of Natural History 

 this species of Humming-bird as an inhabitant of the United States. The 

 specimen which is now in my possession, was obtained by Dr. Strobel at 

 Key West in East Florida. He informed me that he had succeeded in 

 capturing it from a bush where he had found it seated, apparently wearied 

 after its long flight across the Gulf of Mexico, probably from some of the 

 West India Islands, or the coast of South America. Whether this species is 

 numerous in any part of Florida, I have had no means of ascertaining. The 

 interior of that territory, as its name indicates, is the land of flowers, and 

 consequently well suited to the peculiar habits of this genus; and as it has 

 seldom been visited by ornithologists, it is possible that not only this, but 

 several other species of Humming-birds, may yet be discovered as inhabitants 

 of our southern country. 



