BN Gok.

 

 

Tuat early impressions of the mind are vividly retained, while events of the day flit from our
memory, must have been experienced by every one. How vivid, then, is my recollection of the
first Humming-Bird which met my admiring gaze! with what delight did I examine its tiny body
and feast my eyes on its glittering plumage! This early impression, I well remember, gradually
increased into an earnest desire to attain a more intimate acquaintance with the lovely group of
birds to which it pertained, and was still further strengthened when an opportunity was afforded
me of inspecting the, at that time, unique collection of the Trochilide formed by the late Mr.
George Loddiges, of Hackney. This gentleman and myself were imbued with a kindred spirit
in the love we both entertained for this family of living gems. To describe the feeling which
animated us with regard to them is impossible ; it can, in fact, only be realized by those who
have made Natural History a study, and who pursue the investigation of its charming mysteries
with ardour and delight. That our enthusiasm and excitement with regard to most things
become lessened, if not deadened, by time, particularly when we have acquired what we vainly
consider a complete knowledge of the subject, is, I fear, too often the case with most of us ; not
so, however, I believe with those who take up the study of the Family of Humming-Birds.
Certainly I can affirm that such is not the case with myself; for the pleasure which I experience
on seeing a Humming-Bird is as great at the present moment as when I first saw one. During
the first twenty years of my acquaintance with these wonderful works of creation, my thoughts

were often directed to them in the day, and my night dreams have not unfrequently carried me

to their native forests in the distant country of America.

In passing through this world I have remarked that when inquirers of a strong will really set
themselves to attain a definite object, they generally accomplish it ; and in my own case the time
at length arrived when I was permitted to revel in the delight of seeing the Humming-Birds in
a state of nature, and to observe their habits in the woods and among the great flowering trees
of the United States of America and in Canada. For some time a single Humming-Bird was my

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