8 
EEAl'TIFUL BIRDS. 
in proportion, very much hooked, and extremely 
These curious little birds are not more remarkable 
for the great brilliancy of their plumage, than for the 
singular production of supplementary feathers, not 
absolutely requisite either for clothing or for flight, 
which grow from ditferent parts of their bodies, but 
chiefly from some part or parts of the head or neck. 
These feathers, it is believed, are produced only on 
the males dimug the breeding season; but as the 
Humming Birds, in tropical countries at least, breed 
more frequently than almost any other birds, the 
season of love occupies 'a great portion of the 
year. 
- Perhaps the best and most ample accounts of the 
habits and economy of Humming Birds are those 
given by AVhlson and Audubon, in their histories of 
the Northern or Euby-throated Hummmg Bird (Tro- 
cliilus rubinens) ; we shall therefore resort to their 
pages to obtain some information concerning the 
general habits of these “jewels of ornithology,” as 
there appears to be great similarity in the manners 
of all of them. “ No sooner,” says Audubon, “ has 
the returning sun again introduced the vernal season, 
and caused millions of plants to expand their leaves 
and blossoms to his genial beams, than the little 
Humming Bird is seen advancing on fairy wings, 
carefidly Ausiting every opening flower-cup, and, like 
a curious florist, removing from each the injurious 
insects AA'hich would otherwise ere long cause their 
beauteous petals to droop and decay. Poised in the 
air, it is obserA^ed peeping cautiously and Avith spark- 
