BUENOS AYRES. 



77 



bee. This species of humming bird is often to 

 be seen in the gardens, putting its sharp bill 

 into the yellow flower of the tobacco plant. 

 The humming bird is found as far south as the 

 Magellan straits ; which seems to indicate a 

 more hardy nature than is generally ascribed to 

 it,* I should have supposed it cold enough at 

 Buenos Ayres to preclude the existence of tro- 

 pical birds or plants ; but the fact is otherwise, 

 especially with regard to plants and trees ; for 

 such as flourish in warmer regions do not refuse 

 to grow almost as well in this. The fruits and 



* A hummingbird has been found in the south of Chili 

 four times as large as the ordinary kind, and is called the 

 Patagonian humming bird (or Trochilus giganteus). The 

 colours are not brilliant. 



Cold certainly does not affect them, as I have learnt 

 that Sir Joseph Banks found them in North America ; and 

 in Mexico, they have been seen where the snow was 

 lying on the ground. 



