THE HUMMING-BIRD, 



129 



the temperate, and possibly arctic regions, will not 

 stay there, after the sun has reached the equator in 

 his returning journey. They belong to the torrid 

 zone, and there alone can they find their nutriment 

 in the winter months. 



It is in the torrid zone then, of the new world, 

 that we are to look for the family of the humming- 

 bird in all its species. A family, adorned with 

 plumage of such amazing brilliancy, as to compete 

 with, if not surpass, the united splendor of our 

 most precious stones themselves. 



Let the young naturalist imagine, blue, white, 

 red, yellow, green, crimson, lake and purple, with 

 all the intermediate shades, blended into each 

 other, producing a most fascinating effect ; and 

 then he will form a faint idea of the transcendent 

 beauty which adorns the plumage of these living 

 gems. 



I once possessed a humming-bird, which wonder- 

 fully attracted the attention of the late worthy Mr, 

 Loddiges. He stood riveted to the spot as he 

 examined it. 



Knowing that he had formed his own collection 

 of humming-birds, chiefly for the good of science ; 

 and aware that mine had no ulterior pretentions, 

 than to attract the passing notice of accidental 

 visitors, I begged him to accept it. 



N 



