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THE HUMMING-BIRD. 



Let me here remark, that the humming-bird 

 never perches when in the act of feeding ; but, 

 invariably takes its nutriment whilst fluttering on 

 the wing before a flower. 



With a trifling variation, which may be called 

 a flattening of the shafts in the primary wing- 

 feathers of a few species, the form of the wings 

 in the entire family is precisely the same. Hence, 

 every individual, great and small, will produce the 

 same humming noise; with this difference, that 

 it will sound stronger in the larger tribes, and 

 weaker in the smaller ones. 



Although the flight of these birds is rapid 

 beyond conception, yet the individual which exer- 

 cises it, is never seen in an altitude much higher 

 than the tops of the trees, nor so low as to sweep 

 along, close to the ground, or to the surface of the 

 water, as our swallows are wont to do. 



The course of humming-birds seems always 

 directed to the locality where they can meet with 

 food, either in the cups of flowers, or at a column 

 of gnats, clustering in the void, at a moderate 

 distance from the ground. 



When the parasite plants of Guiana have come 

 into full bloom, then is the proper time to find 

 certain humming-birds, which you never fall in 

 with, when these parasites are only in leaf. I have 



