136 
NOBTHERN HUMMING-BIRD. 
black to a fiery crimson and a burning orange. The 
female is destitute of this ornament, which is white, 
with all the other under parts, and the tip of the tail 
feathers. The young birds have the under parts 
brownish white, and are somewhat lighter in the 
under parts. The males begin to acquire the red 
feathers on the throat about autumn, but they are not 
complete before the following season. 
The same ornithologist, to whom we have been so 
much indebted for the history of this bird, has also 
made it the subject of a poem, which we cannot now 
omit. 
“ When morning dawns, and the bless’d sun again 
Lifts his red glories from the eastern main, 
Thon round our woodbines, wet with glittering dews, 
The flower-fed humming-bird his round pursues ; 
Sips with inserted tube the honied blooms, 
And chirps his gratitude as round he roams ; 
While richest rosea, though in ciimson dress’d, 
Shrink from the splendour of his gorgeous breast. 
What heavenly tints in mingled radiance fly ! 
Each rapid movement gives a different die ; 
Like scales of burnish’d gold they dazzling show. 
Now sink to shade — now like a furnace glow ! ” 
