. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. 380 NATURAL HISTORY. rivers, I have seen Humming bii-ds come oiat of the forest and remain a long time on the wing—now stationary, now darting about with the gi-eatest rapidity, imitating in a limited space the evolutions of their companions the Goatsuckers, and evidently for the same end and ; Wilson, the poet-naturalist, observes of the North American species as follows :—" Nature in every department of her works seems to delight in variety, and the present subject is almost as singular for its minuteness, beauty, want
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. 380 NATURAL HISTORY. rivers, I have seen Humming bii-ds come oiat of the forest and remain a long time on the wing—now stationary, now darting about with the gi-eatest rapidity, imitating in a limited space the evolutions of their companions the Goatsuckers, and evidently for the same end and ; Wilson, the poet-naturalist, observes of the North American species as follows :—" Nature in every department of her works seems to delight in variety, and the present subject is almost as singular for its minuteness, beauty, want of song, and manner of feeding, as the Mocking Bird is for unrivalled excellence of note and jJainness of plumage. This is one of the few birds that are universally beloved, and amidst the sweet dewy serenity of a summer's morning his appearance amongst the arbours of honeysuckles and beds of llowers is truly interesting. 'When morning dawns, and the West sun again Lifts his red glories from the Eastern main, Then through our woodbines, wet with glittering dews, The flower-fed Humming bird his round pursues; Sips with inserted tube the honied blooms, And chirps his gratitude as round he roams ; While richest roses, though in crimson di-est, Shrink from the splendour of his gorgeous breast. What heavenly tints in mingling radiance fiy ! Each rapid movement gives a different dye : Like scales of burnished gold they dazzling show, Now sink to shade, now to a furnace glow.'''. -Til 111 MMI^r. HIRD Printed by Cassell & CoMrANV, Limited, La Belle Sacvage, Londdn', Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Duncan, P. Martin (Peter Martin), 1821-1891; Metcalf Collection (North Carolina State University). NCRS. London [etc] Cassell & Company, Limited
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
