32 



HUMMING-BIRD. 



sively on this subject. I have seen the Hummmg-bird for half an 

 hour at a time darting at those little groups of insects that dance 

 in the air in a fine summer evening, retiring to an adjoining twig 

 to rest, and renewing the attack with a dexterity that sets all our 

 other Flycatchers at defiance. I have opened from time to time 

 great numbers of these birds ; have examined the contents of the 

 stomach with suitable glasses, and in three cases out of four, have 

 found these to consist of broken fragments of insects. In many 

 subjects entire insects of the coleopterous class, but very small, 

 were found unbroken. The observations of Mr. Coffer as detailed 

 above, and the remarks of my worthy friend Mr. Peale, are corro- 

 borative of these facts. It is well known that the Humming-bird 

 is particularly fond of tubular flowers where numerous small in- 

 sects of this kind resort to feed on the farina, &c. and there is every 

 reason for believing that he is as often in search of these insects as 

 of honey ; and that the former compose at least as great a portion 

 of his usual sustenance as the latter. If this food be so necessary 

 for the parents there is no doubt but the young also occasionally 

 partake of it. 



To enumerate all the flowers of which this little bird is fond, 

 would be to repeat the names of half our American Flora. From 

 the blossoms of the towering poplar, or tulip tree, thro a thousand 

 intermediate flowers to those of the humble larkspur, he ranges at 

 will, and almost incessantly. Every period of the season produces 

 a fresh multitude of new favorites. Towards the month of Septem- 

 ber there is a yellow flower which grows in great luxuriance along 

 the sides of creeks and rivers, and in low moist situations ; it grows 

 to the height of two or three feet, and the flower, which is about 

 the size of a thimble, hangs in the shape of a cap of liberty above 

 a luxuriant growth of green leaves. It is the Balsamina noli me tan- 

 gere of botanists, and is the greatest favorite with the Humming- 

 bird of all our other flowers. In some places where these plants 

 abound you may ,see at one time ten or twelve Humming-birds 



