HUMMING BIRD. Y yy 



singular for its minuteness, beauty, want of song, and manner 

 of feeding as the preceding is for unrivalled excellence of 

 notes and plainness of plumage. Though this interesting and 

 beautiful genus of birds comprehends upwards of seventy 

 species, all of which, with a very few exceptions, are natives of 

 America and its adjacent islands, it is yet singular 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 humming 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 



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 splen- 

 did 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 

 Ccereba, &c. ; in Africa, by JVectarinia and Cyniris ; and in Australia 

 and in the Southern Pacific, by Meliphaga, Myrzomela, &c. Europe 

 possesses no direct prototype. 



The second northern species alluded to was discovered by Captain 

 Cook in Nootka Sound, and first described by Dr Latham as the ruff- 

 necked humming bird. Mr Swainson introduces it in the " Northern 

 Zoology," under his genus Selasphorus. It ranges southwards to Eeal del 

 Monte on the tableland of Mexico. — Ed. 



* Mr M'Kenzie speaks of seeing a "beautiful humming bird" near 

 the head of the Unjigah, or Peace River, in lat. 54° ; but has not par- 

 ticularised the species. 



VOL. I. M 



