170 



SIR 



WM. 



JARDINE ON HUMMING BIRDS. 



Knapp, and the Wilsons, in the same way as we would say that Claude 

 Lorraine, Vernet, and Cuyp, are of the same school in landscape paint- 

 ing ; though each of these distinguished painters is characterised by 

 personal peculiarities, as is uniformly the case with original genius in 

 every department of literature, art, or science. We are half tempted . 

 to extract largely from the introductory remarks ; but, considering our 

 limits, we must for the present remain contented with another, which 

 we select on account of having remarked in a previous page, that Sir 

 William did not pay much attention to physiology. The following 

 quotation will show that he can, when he so chooses, give excellent 

 illustrations of this interesting branch of science : — • 



{< When we examine attentively," lie says, " the structure of any bird, we soon 

 come to the conclusion that the most important parts of its outward form are those 

 organs which serve for the means of transporting it from place to place. On presenting 

 a humming-bird to the most common observer, the first exclamation generally is, 

 c What a beautiful little creature it is!' The second, 'What large wings it has !' 

 Such, indeed, is the case, and in most cases, the size of their wings and strength of 

 their quills, are entirely out of proportion to our ideacof symmetry in a creature clothed 

 with feathers ; but, upon comparing them with its necessities, and the other parts of its 

 frame, their utility and design become obvious. All their other parts, not called into 

 action during flight, are very slender, almost frail ; their tarsi short, and feet small, so 

 as not to incommode during flight, while they point out an inability for any long sup- 

 port or assistance in procuring sustenance, by climbing or hanging in various positions 

 as we see employed by the titmouse, and many of the slender-billed warblers. Their 

 food is derived from the sweet nectar of flowers, or from insects which must either be 

 taken in a rapid flight, or withdrawn from the deep tube, or cup-shaped recesses of 

 blossoms which grow and hang in every direction, and which it would be impossible to 

 reach, unless by suspension above or under. Another great necessity for possessing 

 organs of such power, is to enable them to pass in safety through the migrations, and 

 the long flights which are sometimes necessary for their preservation, and during which 

 they have often to withstand a passing gale, showers, or even the rigour of a snow 

 storm. The beautiful climes where we have seen they inhabit, are at seasons subject 

 to perpt tual rains, which drench and almost inundate their abodes, or to hurricanes 

 that in a few minutes leave a wreck of all that was before so magnificent and luxu- 

 riant ; and they pass by these means, before the dangerous season, to districts where 

 the reparation of a previous wreck is proceeding with all the magical rapidity of tro- 

 pical vegetation. 



" The form of the wings is very nearly similar to those of the swift (Cypselus, 

 Illiger) whose power of flight every one is acquainted with. They iu general exceed 

 the tail in length, unless when that member is extraordinarily developed. The ex- 

 terior outline of the wing is much curved, and the first quill is always longest, the 

 others gradually shortening. The secondaries are very short, and the lesser wing- 

 coverts occupy very little room. The plumelets of the quills are quite narrow and 

 compact, firmly united together, forming a substance, and which, by presenting resist- 

 ance to the air when struck, and allowing no part to pass through the webs, as in 



