The Humming-Bird. 287 
evening are the periods when it is most animated and 
active." 
There is another kind of Lyre-Bird, also found in New 
South Wales, to which Mr. Gould has given the name 
of Menura Alberti, in honour of the late Prince Consort. 
THE HUMMING-BIRD. (Trochilus colubris.) 
There are numerous species of Humming-Birds, but 
that represented above, is one of the most common. 
They are abundant in South America, particularly in 
Brazil ; and are so small and so brilliant in their colours, 
that when seen fluttering about in the brilliant rays of a 
tropical sun, they look like flying gems. They are ex- 
tremely active, darting about, and thrusting their long 
beaks and flexible tongues into every flower they see, in 
search of food. Sometimes they will remain suspended 
in the air for a long time together, vibrating their 
wings with such velocity, that they cannot be seen dis- 
tinctly, but appear like a mist round the body of the bird, 
while they make that curious humming noise from which 
the bird takes its name. Sometimes they quarrel, when 
their little throats become distended, their crest, tails, 
and wings expand, and they fight with inconceivable 
fury, till one of them falls exhausted on the ground. The 
most common species is Trochilus colubris, the Ruby- 
throated Humining-Bird, and one of them has been kept 
alive in a cage for more than three months, by feeding 
it with sugar and water. This species is found in North 
