HUMMING BIRD. 
211 
Nhun- in a seemingly torpid state for a whole fore- 
No motion whatever of the lungs could be 
fer. 
litiii 
ceived, on the closest inspection ; though, at other 
j '®s, this is remarkably observable; the eyes were 
and, when touched by the linger, it gave no 
’?>is of life or motion. I carried it out to the open 
^ and placed it directly in the rays of the sun, in 
li ^aeltered situation. In a few seconds, respiration 
tetanic very apparent; the bird breathed faster and 
opened its eyes, and began to look about, with 
biuch seeming vivacity a.s ever. After it had com- 
% recovered, I restored it to liberty; and it flew 
*0 the withered top of a pear tree, where it sat for 
a"'® time dressing its disordered plumage, and then 
^ off like a meteor. 
, the flio-ht of the humming bird, from flower to flower, 
w^'illy resembles that of a bee ; but is so much more 
that the latter appears a mere loiterer to him. 
ji* poises himself on wing, while he thrusts his long, 
fitter, tubular tongue into tlie flowers in search of 
He sometime.s enters a room by the window, 
ft ^"lincs the bomiucts of flowers, and passes out by 
IjiK 'Opposite door or window. Ho has been known to 
*ttti 
refuge in a hobhouse during the cool nights of 
J^’’'bnn ; to go regularly out in the morning, and to 
(^h‘rn as regularly in the evening, for several days 
^ther. 
.‘® hummingbird has, hitherto, been supposed to 
ij ^ist altogether on the honey, or li(juid sweets, which 
), ®*tracts from flowers. One or two curious observers 
indeed, remarked, that they have found evident 
(| oiUents of insects in the stomach of this species ; but 
have been generally believed to have been taken 
“y accident. The few opportunities which Euro- 
tas"* determine this point by observations 
Itill ® on the living bird, or, by dissection of the newly 
one, have rendered this mistaken opinion almost 
in Europe. For myself I can spe.ak deid.sively 
Lif'-nis subject : I have seen the humming bird, for 
* an hour at a time, darting at those little groups of 
