134 
NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD. 
sunbeams, droops and soon dies. A very beautiful 
male was brought me this season (1809,) which I put 
into a wire cage, and placed in a retired shaded part 
of the room. After fluttering about for some time, 
the weather being uncommonly cool, it clung to the 
wires, and hung in a seemingly torpid state for a 
• whole forenoon. No motion whatever of the lungs 
could be perceived, on the closest inspection ; though 
at other times this is remarkably observable ; the eyes 
were shut, and when touched by the- finger, it gave 
no signs of life or motion. I carried it out to the open 
air, and placed it directly in the rays of the sun, in a 
sheltered situation. In a few seconds, respiration 
became very apparent ; the bird breathed faster and 
faster, opened its eyes, and began to look about, with 
as much seeming vivacity as ever. After it had com- 
pletely recovered, I restored it to liberty ; and it flew 
off to the withered top of a pear-tree, where it sat for 
some time dressing its disordered plumage, and then 
shot off like a meteor. 
“ The flight of the humming-bird from flower to 
flower, greatly resembles that of a bee ; but is so much 
more rapid, that the latter appears a mere loiterer to 
him. He poises himself on the wing, while he thrusts 
his long slender tubular tongue into the' flowers in 
search of food.” And Mr Audubon adds, “ during 
their migration they pass in long undulations. I have 
not, however, been able to assure myself whether they 
migrate during the day or by night, but am inclined 
