HUMMING-BIRDS. 
P8 
Juan Fernandez.'* Two species only extend far into 
the northern continent of America. The one, the 
ruff-necked humming-bird, ( Selasphorus ru/tis, Swain- 
son,) was discovered by Captain Cook in Nootka 
Sound, and has been traced by Kotzebue to the Gl 0 along 
the western shores ; the other, the northern humming- 
bird, (TrockUus colubris, Linnaeus,) so beautifully de- 
scribed by Wilson, has been obtained from the plains 
of the Saskaehewan, and was found breeding by Mr 
Drummond near the sources of the Elk River ; it is 
know to reach as far north as the 57th parallel. 
The best accounts of the habits and economy of the 
humming-birds are those given by Wilson and Audu- 
bon, in their histories of the northern or ruby-throated 
humming-bird ; and by Bullock, of several species 
which are found in Mexico and in the island of 
Jamaica. And from the little we have been able to 
glean from other writers, there appears to exist great 
similarity in their manners. They are of a lively 
and active disposition, almost constantly on the wing, 
and performing all their motions with great rapidity ; 
their flight is in darts, and it is at this time, in a 
brilliant sun, that the variations of their plumage are 
displayed with the greatest advantage. 
“ Each rapid movement gives a different dye ; 
Like scales of burnish’d gold they dazzling show, 
Now sink to shade — now like a furnace glow.” 
* Trochilus Fernandensis, and T. Slokesii, King . — Reports 
of Zool. Soc. for Jan. 1831 Mon. Bertcrs, a French botanist, 
remained on the island of Juan Fernandez to examine its vegetable 
productions, and records that three species exist on it. 
