210 
TROCHILUS COLUBRIS. 
that these insects formed no inconsiderable part of 
food. Mr Charles Wilson Pcale, proprietor of t"' 
museum, tells me, that he had two young hun)nn''r 
birds, which he raised from the nest. They used 
lly about the room; and would frerjuently perch 
Mi-s Peak’s shoulder to be fed. When the sun sho'V, 
strongly into the chamber, he has observed them da^ ' 
iug after the motes that floated in the light, as W 
catchers would after flics. In the summer of 
nest of young humming birds was brought me, *** , 
were nearly tit to fly. One of them actually fle'V 
by the window the same evening, and, falling agaio*^*.j 
wall, M as killed. The other refused food, and the 
morning I could but just perceive that it had life- •, 
lady ill the house undertook to be its nurse, placed ^ 
in her bosom, and, as it began to revive, dissolved 
little sugar in her mouth, into which she thrust > j, 
bill, and it sucked with great avidity. In this maB^jj 
it was brought up until fit for the cage. I kepf , 
up-wards of three months, supplied it m ith loaf 
dissolved in water, which it preferred to honey j 
water, gave it fresh floivers every morning sprin*^* j 
with the liquid, and surrounded the space in whiedn 
kept it with gauze, that it might not injure itself-,^ 
appeared gay, active, and full of spirit, 'hovering f>^ 
flower to flovyer as if in its native wilds, and al'^j 
expressed by its motions and chirping, great pl®*’’'L- 
at seeing fresh flowers introduced to its cage. 
hers of jieople visited it from motives of ciu-iosity 
I took every precaution to jueserve it, if pos*'^j|f 
tlirough the winter. Unfortunately, hou ever, by *** 
means it g-ot at large, and, flying about the rooDt> • 
injured itself that it soon after died. j 
This little bird is e.xtremely susceptible of cold» ^ 
if loug deprived of the animating influence of the * 
beams, droops and soon dies. A very beautiful i®' 
was brought me this season, [1809,] which I put ' . ,|,,' 
wire cage, and placed in a retired shaded part of 
room. After fluttering about for some time, the ^ 
ther being uncommonly cool, it clung by the 
