36 



NORTHERN, OR RTTBY-THROATED. 



PLATE IV.-FIG. 2. 



Troohilus colulris. This is a common and hardy species of 

 Humming Bird; it is found in North America, and its habits 

 have been more fully described than those of any other kind. 

 The naturalist Audubon has observed it very closely, and from 

 Mm, as well as from Wilson, we shall quote somewhat largely. 

 But first as to its name, why colulris? We find that in 

 Latin colubnnus means relating to or like a serpent, cunning, 

 crafty. Let us see if there is anything in the character of 

 our little Hummer which justifies such a title. His shape, 

 we may observe, is slender and graceful; his colours brilliant, 

 those of his breast covering especially, so constantly changing 

 from a rich ruby glow to a burning orange, a fiery crimson, 

 and even a deep glossy black, according to the light in which 

 they are viewed. The whole upper part of the head and body 

 is a fine golden green; the tail and wings are purplish brown, 

 and the under parts of the body are dusky white, shaded with 

 green; the breast feathers, about which the metallic tints shift 

 and play like flashes of coloured light, are singularly fine and 

 close of texture, so that they overlay each other like burnished 

 scales. The female has not this beautiful gorget, nor have the 

 very young birds: the red feathers begin to appear in autumn, 

 and only shine forth in their full splendour until the following 

 spring; then, indeed, it must be a treat to watch them, as 

 Audubon did, in the full enjoyment of life and liberty. Speaking 

 of this species, he says, — 



"No sooner has the returning sun again introduced the vernal 

 season, and caused millions of plants to expand their leaves 

 and blossoms to his genial beams, than the little Humming 

 Bird is seen advancing on fairy wings, carefully visiting every 

 opening flower- cup, and like a curious florist, removing from 

 each the injurious insects which would otherwise, ere long, 

 cause the beauteous petals to droop and decay. Poised in the 

 air, it is observed peeping cautiously, and with sparkling eye, 

 into their innermost recesses, whilst the ethereal motions of 

 its pinions, so rapid and so light, appear to fan and cool the 

 flower without injuring its fragile texture, and produce a 



