Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/516



I am indebted to my learned friend the Reverend John' Bachman for this species of Humming Bird, of Avhich he received a specimen from our mutual friend Dr Stuobel, and afterwards presented it to me.

" Hitherto," says he, " it has been supposed that only one species of Humming Bird (the Trochilus Coluhris) ever visits the United States. Although this is a genus consisting of upwards of a hundred species, all of which are peculiar to the Continent of America and the adjoining islands, yet with few exceptions they are confined to the tropics. In those warm climates, where the Bignonias and other tubular flowers that bloom throughout the year, and innumerable insects that sport in the sun-shine, afford an abundance of food, these lively birds are the greatest orna- ments of the gardens and forests. Such in most cases is the brilliancy of their plumage, that I am unable to find apt objects of comparison un- less I resort to the most brilliant gems and the richest metals. So rapid is their flight that they seem to outstrip the wind. Almost always on the wing, we scarcely see them in any other position. Living on the honeyed sweets of the most beautiful flowers, and the minute insects con- cealed in their coroUas, they come to us as etherial beings, and it is not surprising that they should have excited the wonder and admiration of mankind.

" It affords me great pleasure to introduce to the lovers of Natural History a second species of Humming Bird as an inhabitant of the United States. The specimen which is now in my possession, was obtained by Dr Strobe L at Key West in East Florida. He informed me that he had succeeded in capturing it from a bush where he had found it seated, apparently wearied after its long flight across the Gulf of Mexico, probably from some of the West India Islands, or the coast of South America. Whether this species is numerous in any part of Florida, I have had no means of ascertaining. The interior of that territory, as its name indicates, is the land of flowers, and consequently well suited to the peculiar habits of this genus ; and as it has seldom been visited by ornithologists.