210 
IIUxMMING SIRD. 
often stoppeil, Avitli pleasure, to ol)serve bis manoeuvres among the blos- 
soms of tbe trumpet flower. When arrived before a thicket of these 
that are full blown, he poises, or suspends himself on ■\ving, for tbe space 
of two or three seconds, so steadily, that bis wings become invisible, 
or only like a mist ; and you can plainly distinguish the pupil of his 
eye looking round with great quickness and circumspection ; tbe glossy 
golden green of bis back, and the fire of his throat, dazzling in the sun, 
form altogether a most interesting appearance. The position into which 
his body is usually thrown while in the act of thrusting his slender 
tubular tongue into the flower, to extract its sweets, is exhibited in the 
figure on the plate. When he alights, which is frequently, he ahvays 
prefers the small dead twigs of a tree, or bush, where he dresses and 
arranges his plumage Avith great dexterity. His oidy note is a single 
chirp, not louder than that of a small cricket or grasshopper, generallji 
uttered while passing from flower to flower, or when engaged in fight 
with his fellows ; for Avhen two males meet at the same bush, or flower, a 
battle instantly takes place ; and the combatants ascend in the air, 
chirping, darting and circling round each other, till the eye is no longer 
able to follow them. The conqueror, however, generally returns to the 
place to reap the fruits of his victory. I have seen him attack, and for 
a few moments tease tbe King Bird ; and have also seen him in his 
turn, assaulted by a humble-bee, which he soon put to flight. He is one 
of those few birds that are universally beloved ; and amidst the sweet 
dcAvy serenity of a summer's morning, his appearance among the ar- 
bors of honeysuckles, and beds of flowers, is truly interesting. 
Wlien morniiiL!; dawns, and the blest sun, again 
Lifts his red glories from the Eastern main, 
Then through our woodbines, wet with glittering dews, 
The flower-fed Humming-bird his round pursues ; 
Sips with inserted tube, the honeyed l)looms, 
And chirps his gratitude as round he roams; 
While richest roses, though in crimson drest, 
Shrinli from the splendor of his gorgeous lireast ; 
What heav'nly tints in mingling radiance fiy ! 
Each rapid movement gives a different dye ; 
Like scales of burnished gold they dazzling show, 
Iv ow sink to shade — now like a furnace glow ! 
The singularity of this little bird has induced many persons to attempt 
to raise them from the nest, and accustom them to the cage. Mr. Cofi"er, 
of Fairfax county, Virginia, a gentleman who has paid great attention 
to the manners and peculiarities of our native birds, told me, that be 
raised and kept two, for some months, in a cage ; supplying them with 
honey dissolved in water, on Avhich they readily fed. As the sweetness 
