260 THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
exactly as represented by Donovan, which, my friend 
tells me, is as large as the living bird. " This hum- 
ming-bird was brought from New Zealand, and was 
one among the numbers of those rarities collected 
in that island by the celebrated navigator, Captain 
Cook, in his first voyage round the world, that in 
which he was accompanied by Sir Joseph Banks and 
Dr. Solander.'' 
However beautiful and wonderful the feathered 
inhabitants of other climes may be, and, doubtless, 
they make a splendid appearance in a museum, or 
when well represented by the artist, yet we cannot 
feel that intense interest in them that we do in those 
of our own woods and groves, those dear little min- 
strels that enliven our rural walks by the melody of 
their voices, greeting us with cheerful notes which- 
ever way we turn. So pleasing to me is the music 
of these our native melodists, as I have heard it when, 
breathing the pure country air in a May morning, 
that I cannot imagine how any one, possessing sen- 
sibility, should prefer the smoke and bustle of a 
town life, to the delight of contemplating Nature in 
all her loveliness. 
