INTRODUCTION. 



during the summer, make but a short stay in the temperate zones. 

 They follow^ the course of the sun, advancing and retiring with 

 it; and flying on the wings of the zephyrs, sport in eternal 

 spring." 



Here, as elsewhere in our book, it will be seen how even the 

 grave man of science has been led, by the extraordinary beauty of 

 his subject, to speak and write like a poet; and the poets them- 

 selves have found it difficult to find terms sufficiently expressive 

 of brilliancy of effect, and richness of tint, to apply to the plu- 

 mage of the Humming Bird, which is only seen in its greatest 

 perfection while the creature is in a living state. Mr. Bullock 

 observes that, "Europeans who have seen only the stuffed remains 

 of these featheaed little gems in museums, have been charmed with 

 their beautiful appearance; but those who have examined them 

 while living, displaying their moving crests, throats, and tails, like 

 the Peacock in the sun, can never look with pleasure on their 

 mutilated forms. I have carefully preserved about two hundred 

 specimens, in the best possible manner, yet they are still but the 

 shadow of what they were during life. The reason is obvious; for 

 the sides of the lamwce, or fibres of each feather, being of a 

 different colour from the surface, will change when seen in a 

 front or oblique (side-long) direction, and as each lamina, or fibre, 

 turns upon the axis of the quill, the least motion, when living, 

 causes the feathers to change suddenly to the most opposite 

 hues." 



Thus it is that emerald green may turn to velvet black, or 

 fiery red; bright crimson to blue, and so on, as is observable in 

 many species. 



HOMES AND HAUNTS. 



It is amid the trackless forests, and wild savannahs of the 

 western world, that the Humming Bird must be chieily sought 

 for; _ indeed it appears to be confined altogether to the western 

 hemisphere, although its range is by no means confined to the 

 tropical or warm parts thereof, or the loM'-lying and sheltered 

 districts. Some species are ftmnd upon high table lands and 

 mountain slopes, where the air is not merely temperate, but abso- 

 lutely cold; even in countries to the north of Canada, they may 

 be seen flying about, their brilliant plumage contrasting strangely 

 with the snowy aspect of the scene. It is, however, where the 

 heat is most intense, and insect life most abundant, that these 

 lively birds are found in the greatest profusion and variety. Amid 

 the tangled forests of South America, where the alligator lurks in 

 the swamps, and the huge boa lies coiled up ready to attack, man 



