34 
128 Messrs. Sclater and Salvin on the 
which abounds there. This tree, which grows to a height of about 
twenty or thirty feet, bears clusters of white flowers, and has 
its branches and stem covered with spines, which sting when 
touched. Its bark also, when bruised, emits a milky fluid, which 
blisters the skin, if any be allowed to remain upon it. The bird, 
when taking its food from this tree, places itself in front of a 
bunch of the flowers, and hovers opposite, at a distance of about 
two or three inches. On perceiving the object of its search, it 
darts in, and, seizing whatever that may be, insect or honey, re¬ 
turns to its position in front of the cluster. So it passes on from 
blossom to blossom, and in like manner from cluster to cluster, 
until the whole tree is thoroughly ransacked. Humming-birds 
do not remain long on the wing at once, but rest frequently, 
choosing for that purpose a small dead or leafless twig at the 
top, or just within the branches of the tree. While in this posi¬ 
tion, they take the opportunity of trimming their feathers and 
cleaning their bill, all the time keeping up an incessant jerking 
of their wings and tail. When this operation has been gone 
through, they peer about for fresh flowers on which to dart. 
The cry of the present species is somewhat represented by the 
work “ chirik ” uttered frequently and with great rapidity. This 
cry seems common to all the family, and it is only from an in¬ 
timate acquaintance that one can trace a difference between the 
species. When they are flying from one place to another, or pur¬ 
suing one another, this cry is especially used, and in the latter 
case it is uttered with great vehemence. The humming sound, 
from which these birds take their trivial name, is something like 
that produced by a large beetle; hut very little practice will 
soon so accustom the ear, that it seldom mistakes the unseen 
presence of a Humming-bird for anything else. 
/ 184. Florisuga mellivora (Linn.); Gould, Mon. Troch. 
part ii. 
>/ 185. Eugenes fulgens (Swains.); Phil. Mag. 1827, p.441; 
Gould, Mon. Troch. pt. xii. 
y/ 186. Myiabeillia typica (Delatt. et Less.); Rev. Zool. 1839, 
p. 16; Gould, Mon. Troch. pt. viii. 
