82 
HUMMING-BIRD. 
with a dexterity that sets all our other Flycatchers at defiance. 
I have opened from time to time great numbers of these birds j 
have examined the contents of the stomach with suitable glas- 
ses, and in three cases out of four, have found these to consist 
of broken fragments of insects. In many subjects entire insects 
of the coleopterous class, but very small, were found unbroken. 
The observations of Mr. Coffer as detailed above, and the re- 
marks of my worthy friend Mr. Peale, are corroborative of 
these facts. It is well known that the Humming-bird is par- 
ticularly fond of tubular flowers where numerous small insects 
of this kind resort to feed on the farina, &c. and there is every 
reason for believing that he is as often in search of these insects 
as of honey; and that the former compose at least as great a 
portion of his usual sustenance as the latter. If this food be so 
neccessary for the parents there is no doubt but the young also 
occasionally partake of it. 
To enumerate all the flowers of which this little bird is fond, 
would be to repeat the names of half our American Flora. From 
the blossoms of the towering poplar, or tulip tree, through a 
thousand intermediate flowers to those of the humble larkspur, 
he ranges at will, and almost incessantly. Every period of the 
season produces a fresh multitude of new favourites. Towards 
the month of September there is a yellow flower which grows 
in great luxuriance along the sides of creeks and rivers, and in 
low moist situations; it grows to the height of two or three feet, 
and the flower which is about the size of a thimble, hangs in 
the shape of a cap of liberty above a luxuriant growth of green 
leaves. It is the Balsamina noli me tangere of botanists, and 
is the greatest favourite with the Humming-bird of all our other 
flowers. In some places where these plants abound you may see 
at one time ten or twelve Humming-birds darting about, and 
fighting with and pursuing each other. About the twentietii 
of September they generally retire to the south. I have, indeed, 
sometimes seen a solitary individual on the twenty-eighth and 
thirtieth of that month, and sometimes even in October; but 
