Genus XXX. TROCIIILUS. HUMMING BIRD. 
Species. T. COLVBIilS. 
HUMMING BIRD. 
[Plate X. Figs. 3, 4.] 
Trocliilus cohi!)ris. LiXN. Sijst. i., p. I'Jl, No. V2.~L' Oiseaii mouclic d gorge rovge 
de la Caroline, Briss. Orn. iii., p. 710, No. 13, t. 36, fig. 6. — Le Ilnhis, Buff. 
Ois. VI., p. 13. — Uumming Bird, Catesb. Car. i., 65. — Fcd-throatcd Humming 
Bird, Edw. I., 38, male and female. — Lath. Sgn. ii., 769, No. 35. 
Nature in every department of her -works seems to delight in 
variety ; and the present subject of our history is almost as singular for 
its minuteness, beauty, vrant of song and manner of feeding, as the 
Mocking-bird is for unrivalled excellence of notes, and plainness of 
plumage. Though this interesting and beautiful genus of birds com- 
preheuds upwards of seventy species, all of which, with a very few 
exceptions, are natives of America and its adjacent islands, it is yet 
singular, that the species now before us should be the only one of its 
tribe that ever visits the territory of the United States. 
According to the observations of my friend Mr. Abbot, of Savannah, 
in Georgia, who has been engaged these thirty years in collecting and 
drawing subjects of natural history in that part of the country, the 
Humming Bird makes its first appearance there, from the south, about 
the twenty-third of March ; two weeks earlier than it does in the county 
of Burke, sixty miles higher up the country towards tlie interior ; and 
at least five weeks sooner than it reaches this part of Pennsylvania. 
As it passes on to the northward as far as the interior of Canada, where 
it is seen in great numbers,* the wonder is excited how so feebly con- 
structed and delicate a little creature can make its way over such 
extensive regions of lakes and forests, among so many enemies, all its 
superiors in strength and magnitude. But its very minuteness, the 
rapidity of its flight, which almost eludes the eye, and that admirable 
instinct, reason, or whatever else it may be called, and daring courage 
which Heaven has implanted in its bosom, are its guides and protectors. 
In these we may also perceive the reason, why an all-wise Providence 
has made this little hero an exception to a rule which prevails almost 
* Mr. ]M'Kenzie speaks of seeing a " beautiful Humming Bird"' near the head of 
the Unjiguh or Peace river, in lat. 5-4° ; but has not particularized the species. 
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