Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-11-10
MtaceIIattp.
From Bullock's Six months in Mexico. 81
HUMMING BIRDS.

AAO NAAAAA'~ A~NANA%1s
No subject of natural history has,
since the discovery of the new world,
excited the admiration Of mankind more
than this dimnniive favorite of nature
which before the time Of Columbus was
unknown TO the old world. Though il
abounds more in the warm regions, it is
however, dispersed over every part OF
America and its islands, in almos: every
climate, for it is found in summer Dlonths
in Hudson's Bay and Canada.
There is not, it may safely be assert
ed, in all the varied works of nature in
her geological productions, any family
that can bear comparison, for singu-
larity ofform, splendor of color, or num-
Der and variety of species, with this the
smallest of the feathered creation. In
Jamaica procured the smallest known,
which is considerably less than some of
the bees. Near Kingston l found only
four kinds, all known to naturalists. But
in Mexico the species are numerous,
and mostly new or undescribed. By Of
were brought to me awe. mad near
ly seventy cages, which with attention
and care kept living for some weeks.
The accounts of their being so fierce
and untameable as to beat themselves to
death when confined, are not true; no
bird is more easily reconciIed to it's new
situation. II is true they are seldom off
the wing, but never beat themselves a.
gainst the cage, nor the glass of win
dow they remain, as it were, suspend
ed in the air, in a space barely sufi-
cient for them to move their wings,
and the humming noise proceeds entire-
ly from the surprising velocity with
which they perform that motion, by
which they will keep their bodies in
the air, apparently motionless, for hours
together. In each cage was placed a
small earthen cup, about half filled with
Sugar and water, fthe oonsistence of a
thin syrup: in this various flowers had
been inserted, the end of which next the
stem being cut off permitted the liquid
10 flow into the flower, into which the
little prisoners we're constantly insert
ing their long bifed tongues, and draw
ing up its luscious contents. This op-
GRAFTON was generally, like most of the
actions of The bird, performed on the
wing, but they sometimes alighted on
the flower, perching against its sides 10
an upright position, and pumping up the
mucilasinous liquid.
The house | resided in at Xalapa for
several weeks, was only one story high,
enclosing, like most Of the Spanish
houses, small garden in the centre,
the roof projecting 6 or feet from the
walls, covering walk all round, and
leaving small space only between the
tiles and the trees which grew in the
centre. From the edges OF these tiles
to the branches of the trees in the gar
den, the spiders had spread their innu-
merable webs so closely and compact
that they resembled net. | have fire.
quently watched with much amusement
the cautious peregrination Of the hum
ming bird, who, advancing beneath the
web, entered the various labyrinths and
cells in search of entangled flies, but as
the larger spiders did not tamely sur
render their booty, the Invader was of
ten compelled TO retreat. Being within
a few feet, could observe all their ev-
olutions with great precision. The ac-
tive little bird generally passed once or
twice round the court, as if to reconnoi-
ire his ground, and commenced his at
tack by going carefully under the nets
of the witty insect, aud seizing by sur
prise the smallest entangled flies, OF
those that were most feeble. II was
only the works Of the smaller spider
that he burst attack, as the largest rose
to the defence of their citadels, when the
besieger would shoot of like sunbeam,
and could only be traced by the lumin-
Gus glow of his refulgent colOrs. The