rest esSI ess not 3 gratify my de sire ) O

time in the hope of its returning, I continued my walk under the high trees to

waiting for some saat
part of the grounds, where I
feet of me: in this shady retrea
a state of quietude, or to pree é
The almost total absence of Hummi | to mele
the lateness of the season of 1857 having retarded their movement,

was again gratified by seeing my little friend dart off from within g Tew

t it passed from shrub to shrub, now and then perching on some bare twig
n its wings before again darting off to examine the flowers On the
to rest m .

more lofty branches.
I was still too early for them,
the regularity of their arrival beu
of food; I therefore determined to procee oe it the gardens of
Capitol, I had the pleasure of meeting with them in ae pum ers : - ieu, len, the single individual i
Bartram’s garden, I was now gratified by the sight of from fifty to sixty on a single tree, and had an anf

opportunity of observing these living gems, and of noticing their extraordinary movements and aérial eyoly.
S g 8

ng-birds around Philadelphia proved

and
io evidently dependent upon the state of the trees and consequent supply
oO « > . = z
d farther south to Washington, where, in the gardens of the

i pe -e amicably disposed than they are usually said to be. Disnor
tions to my heart’s content. They were more amicably Cis} : i.

‘1 round the reddish flowers of a species of chestnut termed Buck-eye, both males and females were
5

busily engaged in examining the blossoms, ever and anon retiring to some shady branches for the purpose
= Ome ei c

of rest or to plume themselves. To say that these birds, of which several hundreds were to be seen within

the area of as many yards, were in this instance not amicably disposed towards each other, would be
untrue ; a little brush now and then, and an occasional tilting-match between two males, certainly did
occur, but the greater number were evidently too much occupied in the Search for food to waste time in
fighting. I suspect that the pugnacity of the males so graphically described by “ a principally occurs
during the breeding season, when their fury is said to have no bounds. My scientific friend Dr. Baird,
who was with me at the time, will, I am sure, confirm what I have said with regard to the numbers seen on
this occasion.

Having now observed the bird in a state of nature, my next object was to obtain living examples for more
close examination, and through the kindness of Baron Osten-Sacken, the nephew of the great General, a
member of the Russian diplomatic corps at Washington, and an excellent entomologist, a specimen was
soon procured for me in one of the conservatories of the city, and great was my delight in taking posses-
sion of the little captive. A small insect gauze net, about six inches in diameter, distended by a light
hoop, was soon manufactured for its reception, and, although sadly buffeted about, the bird, within an hour
of its capture, readily took sugar and water from a spoon held in the hand: this boldness led me to hope
that it would soon become familiarized with its little domicile. I accordingly suspended it from a button
of my coat, and carried it about with me wherever I went, offering it every half-hour a small bottle filled with
sugar and water, into which it thrust its long bill through the gauze bag, and pumped up the fluid through its
more lengthened tubular tongue. In this way it travelled with me for two days across the Alleghany Moun-
tains, and would doubtless have continued to do well, had I not, at the end of a dusty and tremendously
jolting ride, given it a bath to free it from the dirt which had accumulated on its tail and wings during the
journey, from the effects of which it sickened and died. In recording my obligations to Baron Osten-Sacken,
it must not be supposed that I am unmindful of the attentions rendered me with the same object by every
one at Washington, including His Excellency the President, our own minister, Lord Napier, Mr. Russell,
and others.

A few days’ travelling by way of Ohio and Lake Erie brought me to Canada. At the “Falls” the
‘Hummers ” had but just arrived, and only a few males were to be seen ; at Toronto they were still fewer
in number. At one p.m. on the 5th of June, when passing down the St. Lawrence, I observed a fine male
cross the bows of the vessel from the southern to the northern shore near the Long Sault Rapid ; it was
evidently migrating. In the garden of G. C. Tunstall, Esq., opposite St. Ann’s Rapids, Bout-de-I'lle,
near Montreal, rendered classical by Moore’s well-known (

‘anadian Boat-song, the Humming-birds on
the 8th of June were very abundant, even flitting

about the lilac trees which overshadowed the porch at
the house where, Mrs. Tunstall] informed me, Moore sat

: ; hk.
and composed his celebrated song ; and I feel that
I should be wanting in courtesy were |

not thus publicly to acknowledge my obligations to this kind lady

or permission to shoot two of these little tenants of her garden, which, when informed they were required

for ientific “DOS readi i
a scientific purpose, she readily accorded ; but at the same time assured me that on no other account

would she have allowed one of these little w

anderers to be destroyed, for they were by her both cherished
and beloved. |

Having accomplished all that I coul
Trochilus Colubris in a state of n
examples across the Atlantic ;
of Madison Square, New
then living in his house

d expect to do, during so short a visit, with regard to observing a
ature, a strong desire prompted me to attempt the bringing of living
and upon this desire becoming known to Sidney Augustus Schiefilin, Esq.
York, that gentleman very obliging | | female

, In perfect health, in the finest st
them past the Banks of Newfoundland in safe

point. Through the kindness of Capt
they reached the shores of Engl
the other reached London,
they were fed with syruy

ly presented me with a pair, male anc
lead plumage. My ereatest anxiety was tee
ty, where the thermometer frequently falls below the freezing-
ain Shannon, who afforded me every ee this was achieved, aud
and; one of them, however :
and lived for two days at
» made of sugar
egg as a substitute for their animal food.

y - a ‘he 1:

, unfortunately died as we came up the Channe
e i ~ . enti oe

my house in Broad Street. During the voy

d

and water, with the trifling addition of the yelk of an unboile

a a TN TL SO ON oY 7 IW rn