124 RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD.

The following is part of the description of this lovely
little bird, as given by Wilson:—‘The humming-bird
is three inches and a half in length, and four and a
quarter in extent; the whole back, upper parts of the
neck, sides under the wings, tail coverts, and two middle
feathers of the tail, are of a rich golden green; the
tail is forked, and, as well as the wings, of a deep
brownish purple; the bill and eyes are black; the legs
and feet, both of which are extremely small, are also
black; the bill is straight. But what constitutes the
chief ornament of this little bird, is the splendour of
the feathers of his throat, which, placed in a proper
position, glow with all the brillianey of the ruby.”

“The humming-bird,” says Bishop Stanley, “is ex-
tremely fond of tubular flowers; and I have often stopped
with pleasure to observe his mancuvres among the
trumpet-flowers. When arrived before a thicket of these
that are full blown, he poises, or suspends himself
on the wing, for the space of two or three seconds, so
steadily that his wings become invisible, or only like a
mist, and yet, can plainly distinguish the pupil of his
eye looking round with great quickness and circum-
spection; the glossy green of his back, and the fire of
his throat, dazzling in the sun, form altogether a most
interesting appearance. He is one of the few birds that
are universally beloved.”