THE HUMMING BIRDS. 
159 
been noticed. In the Racket-tail we have a tail 
deeply forked, with the two outer quills entirely bare 
of webbing in the centre, for about one-third their 
length, and at the outer extremities expanding sud- 
denly into a broad spathe, somewhat in the shape of 
a battledore. In the gorgeous Comet-tail the tail is 
forked, and composed of broad feathers, the outer 
pair about four and a half inches in length, all tip- 
ped with black, and glowing with a radiant lustre 
like highly polished brass, with a considerable tinge 
of red, which has given it with some the significant 
title of Flame-tail. A number of other species might 
be mentioned to show the vast variety of forms as- 
sumed by this important appendage, which adds to 
each species a peculiar grace, and no doubt exerts a 
considerable influence in regulating its motions upon 
the wing; but the limits of this article will not admit 
of more. 
The peculiar beauty of the Humming Bird con- 
sists in the metallic lustre of its coloring; and when 
seen in a strong light, some parts of the plumage 
exhibit a surface of the most exquisite polish, glit- 
tering with all the brilliancy of the ruby, the fiery 
lustre of the topaz, and the soft sparkling of the 
sapphire, the emerald, and the amethyst. Their voice 
consists mostly of a low twitter or chirp, although it 
is asserted that some species indulge in a low but 
not unmusical warble. Thus we see that Nature dis- 
tributes her gifts with an equal hand; for, while to 
these little creatures she has given a plumage of the 
most unrivalled splendor, covering their feathers with 
