INTRODUCTION. 



xxvii 



and forests, and dreary wildernesses, where the foot of man has 

 never trodden; and that some of the discovered species being very 

 local in their habitats, that is, confined to an area of small extent, 

 it is likely that many of the undiscovered ones are so also, so that 

 the number of additions to the group may be very large indeed. 

 A writer on the subject, arguing from these and other facts, thinks 

 that not more than two-thirds of the species have yet been regis- 

 tered in the pages of science. 



"Why, what a subject here for contemplation. Suppose we only 

 double the present number, and say sis hundred different kinds 

 of Humming Birds; different kinds, each one with a distinct name, 

 and representing a division of the great tribe, consisting of — how- 

 many? — one is afraid to calculate. And what are they created 

 for? some wise and beneficent purpose, without a doubt; it may 

 be to keep down the excess of insect life, which is so abundant 

 in the warm moist climates where these birds are so numerous. 

 But why so gloriously apparelled? "Why decked with all the 

 colours of the rainbow, and beset, as it were, with flashing and 

 sparkling gems? This we cannot tell, but we may well believe 

 that it was to beautify and adorn the earth, and make it a pleasant 

 dwelling-place for man; to give him cause for gratitude and love 

 for the Great Creator of all things. 



But we were going to say a few words about the scientific 

 arrangement of the Humming Birds, which have been divided into 

 five sub-families, according to certain marked characteristics which 

 they possess, as thus: — 1st. — Tkochilus. — Bill very straight; tail 

 moderate, equally rounded. 2nd. — Cyanthtjs. — Bill straight, or 

 very slightly curved; tail very long and forked. 3rd. — Phjethoenis. 

 — Bill elongated and arched; tail lengthened, graduated, and 

 cuneated, that is, shaped like a wedge. 4. — Campylopterous. 

 — Bill rather long and slightly curved; wings falcated, that is, 

 bent like a hook or sickle; tail rounded or graduated. 5th. — > 

 Lampoknis. — Bill arched; tail short, nearly even, rounded, or 

 slightly forked. 



This is the arrangement of Swainson, an English naturalist, and 

 the names of the sub-families are his; the characteristics given do 

 not differ much from those of the French naturalists, Viellot, 

 Audebert, and Lesson, the latter of whom had previously to Mr. 

 Gould's publication, given to the world the most magnificent mono- 

 graph of Humming Birds known. 



With the numerous generic and specific names which are applied 

 to this family, our readers need not be troubled, nor need they 

 puzzle their brains, at present, to learn those of Swainson's sub- 

 divisions; if they bear in mind that Trochilus means a Humming 

 Bird, it will be sufficient for all except scientific purposes. There 



