PLATE V. 



nectar nearly in the Scmie manner as tlie insects of the sphinx genus. 

 The Humming-Birds, when on the wing, are observed to emit a 

 humming noise, like that of the bee, and it is apparently from this 

 circumstance that this class of the feathered race have derived the 

 appellation of Humming-Birds. 



As the different species of the Humming-Bird, though uni- 

 formly small, vary much in magnitude, from the bigness indeed of 

 the wren and others of our smaller warblers to a size more diminu- 

 tive than several of the larger kinds of the bee tribe, the nests of 

 these birds, as may be conceived, are found to vary materially ac- 

 cording to tlie size of the species to which they appertain. These 

 little local habitations of the infant brood are all comparatively 

 small, are usually of a roundish form, lined with the softest downy 

 leaves, and each in general contains two little eggs, scarcely ex- 

 ceeding the size of peas, and of a pure white colour without any 

 spots. 



The slenderness of the bill and weakness of the legs in this 

 tribe of birds sufficiently demonstrate that they are inadequate to 

 any contests with other kinds of the feathered race ; they are never- 

 theless observed among themselves to be rather of a pugnaceous 

 disposition. Their usual contests are for their mates or for the 

 possession of some favourite flower, and are observed to take place 

 while on the wing. Their mode of attack is by striking with 

 violence against each other, for they never attempt to assault each 

 other with their bill and their feet are much too small and feeble 

 for conflict. 



