NATURAL HISTORY. | 107 
that birds are formed, not only to delight the ear and 
pleafe the eye, but alfo to ferve us, by deftroying 
thofe vermin, which do incredible mifchief to our 
‘ruftic poffeifions. As we can have no enjoyment, 
however, without fome mixture of alloy, the titmoufe 
frequently injures our fruit gardens, by deftroying 
the tender buds. yee ° 
Like the woodpecker, it is continually running up 
and down the trunks of trees, fearching for food. 
/ 
LARGE CRESTED HUMMING BIRD. 
Th ERE isa great variety in this fpecies of birds, 
which, although the {malleft of the feathered tribe, 
are by far the moft beautiful, inoffenfive and delight- 
ing. They are from the fize of the wren toa hum- 
blebee. What a beautiful contraft does this little 
bird afford, in the {cale of creation, when prefented 
by the fide of the largeft oftrich, forming the two ex- 
tremes! and how can we fufficiently admire the 
workmanthip of providence, in having created fuch 
varieties for our ufe, entertainment and aififtance. 
In America, they {warm like bees, ranging from 
flower to flower, extracting the fweets ; 1n which 
. peal feem to conneét the infect and bird creation to- 
ether. 4 
: The head of this beautiful bird is adorned witha 
- oreft, green at bottom and bright gold colour at top ; 
the body, and under-the wings. is brown and green 
intermixed, and gloffed with a beautiful red ; the bill 
is black, ftraight and flender ; ‘he eyes black and 
dparkling. | 
‘They are called humming birds, from the noife 
produced by the moticn of the wings. Their nefts, 
