P R E F A C E .
T h a t early impressions o f th e mind are vividly retained, wh ile events o f th e day flit from our
memory, m ust have been experienced by every one. H ow vivid, then, is m y recollection o f the
first Humming-Bird w h ich m et m y admiring g a z e ! w ith wh a t delight did I examine its tiny body
and feast m y ey e s on its glittering p lum a g e ! Th is early impression, I w e ll remember, gradually
increased into an earnest desire to attain a more intimate acquaintance with th e lovely group o f
birds to wh ich it pertained, and wa s still further strengthened w h en an opportunity w as afforded
m e o f inspecting th e , a t that tim e , unique collection o f th e Trochilidce formed by the late Mr.
George Loddiges, o f H a ck n ey . Th is gentleman and m y se lf were imbued with a kindred spirit
in th e lo v e w e bo th entertained for th is family o f liv in g gems. To describe the feeling which
animated us w ith regard to th em is im p o ssib le ; it can, in fact, only be realized b y those who
have made Natural Histo ry a study, and wh o pursue th e investigation o f its charming mysteries
w ith ardour and delight. That our enthusiasm and excitement with regard to most things
become lessened, i f n o t deadened, b y tim e , particularly w h en w e have acquired wh at w e vainly
consider a comp lete know ledg e o f th e subject, is, I fear, too often th e case w ith most o f u s ; not
so, however, I believe w ith tho se wh o take up th e study o f th e Fam ily o f Humming-Birds.
Certainly I can affirm th a t such is n o t th e case with m y s e lf ; for th e pleasure which I experience
on seein g a H umming-Bird is as great a t th e present moment as wh en I first saw one. Du nng
th e first tw en ty years o f m y acquaintance w ith these wonderful works o f creation, m y thoughts
were often directed to th em in th e day, and m y n ight dreams have not unfrequently carried me
to their native forests in th e distant country o f America.
In passing through th is world I have remarked that wh en inquirers o f a strong will really set
themselves to attain a definite object, th ey generally a ccomplish i t ; and in m y own case the time
at len g th arrived w h en I was permitted to revel in th e delight o f seein g th e Humming-Birds in
a state o f nature, and to observe their habits in th e woods and among th e great flowering trees
o f the Un ited States o f America and in Canada. For some tim e a single Humming-Bird was my
c