THE 
NATUEAL HISTOEY 
OP THE 
NECTARINIADiE OR SUN-BIRDS. 
INTEODU CTION. 
“ Each spangled back bright sprinkled specks adorn, 
Each plume imbibes the rosy-tinctured mom ; 
Spread on each wing the florid seasons glow, 
Shaded and verged with the celestial bow ; 
Where colours blend an ever-varying dye, 
And wanton in their gay exchanges vie.” 
In the early Volumes of “ The Library,” we have 
endeavoured to illustrate a family of birds, univer- 
sally acknowledged to be among the most brilliant 
in plumage, as well as being most interesting and 
singular from their diminutive size ; - these were seen 
to be peculiar to the New World, and more particu- 
larly to the tropical or warmer portions of it, though 
a few examples of tiny size and bright colouring 
extended far to the north*, appearing there as 
* Selasphorus rufus, Sw. 
