THE HUMMING-BIRD. 21 
gi'een eyes upon them. His throat is like 
an emerald, he has a crest of orange on his 
head, and his tail is purple mixed with green. 
Then, there is another with two crests upon 
his head, of a bright orange colour, that 
changes every minute, and sparkles like a gem. 
Between the crests, the feathers are of a light 
blue mixed with green, the throat is of a rich 
purple, and the breast a pure white. 
Some of the humming-birds have very long 
tails, that make them look all the handsomer. 
In one little bird, the tail opens out into two 
long forks, of a deep orange colour. Each 
feather is tipped with black, so that when the 
tail is shut up, it looks as if it were barred 
across with black. 
Some have plumes upon the neck, that they 
can set up like a ruff or collar. This ruff is 
generally of a carmine red, often mixed with 
violet. * 
The forest, with its great trees covered 
with climbing plants and flowers, swarms with 
these brilliant little creatures. 
"Like fairy sprites, a thousand birds 
Glance by on golden wing, 
Birds lovelier than the lovely hues 
Of the bloom wherein they sing." 
