OUR HOME BIRDS. 
177 
neck, sides under the wings, tail-coverts, and two 
middle feathers of the tail are of a rich, golden 
green ; the tail is forked, and, as well as the wings, 
of a deep brownish-purple. The lower part of the 
breast is dusky white, mixed with green ; but what 
constitutes the chief ornament of this little bird is 
‘ the splendor of the feathers of his throat, which 
when placed in a proper position glow with all the 
brilliancy of the ruby. These feathers are of singu- 
lar strength and texture, lying close together, like 
scales, and vary, when moved before the eye, from a 
deep black to a fiery crimson and burning orange.’ 
“ The tongue of this little creature has been com- 
pared to the section of a silken thread, and his bill 
to a fine needle. The little eyes appear like sparks 
of a diamond, and the feathers of the wings are so 
delicate as to appear transparent. The feet are so 
small that they can scarcely be seen at a little dis- 
tance. He uses them but little, for he is constantly 
employed in a humming and rapid flutter, in which 
the agitation of his wings is so quick that they are 
nearly invisible. The feathers of the wings are stiff 
and in a state of incessant vibration ; this makes the 
noise from which the birds derive their name. 
“ The humming-bird is usually represented in pic- 
tures with his bill in the mouth of a tubular flower, 
the trumpet-flower being an especial favorite wi^l 
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