xviii 



INTRODUCTION. 



blow tlie beautiful branches, blossoms, buds, bird, leaves, and all, 

 into the room, but undismayed the brilliant stranger would continue 

 at his repast, preventing us from continuing ours, in consequence 

 of the interest and admiration he excited in us; until at last the 

 novelty wore off, and we expected to meet our little friend every 

 morning at breakfast, as a matter of course. Still we were never 

 insensible to the charm of his elfin society, and it was quite a 

 mortification if the wee guest neglected to be punctual to his 

 self-imposed appointment. 



Ornithologically speaking, I believe these precious Bee-birds, 

 these diminutive fays, these diamond dew-drops on wings, these 

 sylphs, these visions, these rainbow-atoms, these flying flowers, 

 these buds of birds, are as bold as an eagle, and fiery as the 

 falcon, in fact, are perfect little furies, just what our small fury 

 who assaulted the governor's hat shewed herself to be. She seemed 

 soft as velvet, or a puff of down, light as foam, bright as a spark 

 of the sun, mild as new milk — a breath of spring, or a honey drop ; 

 but it was in truth very valiant velvet, very doughty down, (quick 

 knock-you-down indeed,) milk soured by a dash of thunder, or, 

 rather, milk-punch of the strongest, honey of the hottest, foam of 

 the fiercest, the most peppery of puffs, — sunshine of the most 

 fiery description, that verily proved a pocket coup de-soleil; 'twas 

 a breath of infant Boreas, and a spark of — gunpowder. This fairy 

 Mab is, in fact, the very Bellona of birds." 



In the "West Indies, we may here note, they call this bird 

 the Collobree, under which name it is alluded to in a poem by 

 Chapman, entitled "Barbadoes," who has fallen into the mistake 

 of supposing that the bird lives on honey: — 



"Small as a beetle, as an eagle brave, 

 In purest ether be delights to lave; 

 The sweetest flowers alone descends to woo, 

 Rifle their sweets, and lives on honey-dew. 

 So light his kisses, not a leaf is stirred, 

 By the bold, happy, amorous Humming Bird; 

 No disarray, no petal rudely moved, 

 Betrays the flower the Collobree has loved." 



HABITS. 



It will thus be seen that our tiny Hummer is a very fierce 

 little fellow indeed, ready to attack all and sundry who meddle 

 with those near and dear unto him, or whom he supposes may have 

 an intention of doing so. We do not consider this readiness to 

 fight to be an amiable trait in his character, and would not there- 

 fore hold him up as an example to be followed by our readers. 

 Fighting is about the worst thing an aggrieved or insulted person 



