Of this curious little bird there are six or seven varieties, from the size of a small wren, down to that of a humblebee. The smallest humming-bird is about the size of a hazel nut. The feathers on its wings and tail are black; but those on its body, and under its wings, are of a greenish brown, with a fine red gloss, which no silk or velvet can imitate. The bill is black and slender, and the head is adorned with a small crest, which sparkles in the sun, like a little star in the middle of the forehead. The larger humming-bird, which is nearly half as big as the wren, is without a crest; but to make amends, it is covered from the throat half-way down the belly, with crimson feathers, that, in different lights, change to a variety of different colours. The heads of both are small, with little round eyes, as black as jet.

It is inconceivable how much these little creatures add to the high finishing of a luxuriant western landscape. In the West Indies, and South America, as soon as the sun is risen, the humming-birds of different kinds are seen fluttering about the flowers, without ever alighting upon them, their wings are in such rapid motion; visiting flower after flower, and extracting its nectar, as if with a kiss;' while the motion of their wings produces a humming sound, which first gave rise to their name.

The nests of these birds, which are about the size of a hen's egg cut in two, are not less curious than the rest; they are suspended in the air, at the point of the twigs of an orange, a pomegranate, or a citron tree; and are composed of cotton, fine moss, and the fibres of vegetables. The female lays two eggs about the size of small peas, and as white as snow, with here and there a yellow speck; and at the end of twelve days the young ones appear. These are at first bare, but are gradually covered with down, and at last with feathers.

HAS been called so, we may fairly suppose, on account of its being generally seen on the wing, and flying in the tropic zone, at a small distance from the land; its appearance being most welcome to the tired sailor and longing passenger, generally causes much happiness by its foretelling the vicinity of terra firma. The head is small, but adorned with colours which can vie with the brightest of the peacock's embellishments: the neck is of a fawn tint, and the body very small, but covered with long feathers of a browner hue, tinged with gold; two feathers issue from the rump, and constitute the tail. These volatiles, whose beauty exceeds that of all others, are natives of the Molucca islands, and are frequently seen in large flocks among the delightful and spicy woods of that country.

The usual method of taking these birds is by shooting them with reed arrows; after which their legs are amputated, their entrails taken out, and their bodies filled with spices, preparatory for sale to the Europeans.

These birds' feathers are a favourite ornament of the South American ladies.

THIS curious bird is about twenty inches in length; the bill is six inches long, and near two inches thick at the base, of a yellowish green colour, redish at the tip. The nostrils are at the base of the bill, but are not covered with feathers, as in some of the species. The principal upper parts of the body, and the breast and neck, are of a glossy black, with a tinge of green; the lower part of the back, the rump, upper part of the tail, and small feathers of the wings, are the same, with a cast of ash-colour; the breast is of a fine orange. The belly, sides, thighs, and the short feathers of the tail, are a bright red; the remainder of the tail is of a greenish black, tipped with red: the legs and claws are black. This bird is easily tamed, and will eat almost any thing offered to it; in general, it feeds on fruits.

The female builds her nest in the holes of trees, that are either formed by herself, or that from accident she meets with, and lays two eggs; and no bird better secures its young from external injury. It has not only birds, men, and serpents, to guard against, but a numerous train of monkeys, still more prying, mischievous, and hungry, than all the rest. The toucan, however, sits in its hole, defending the entrance with its great beak; and if the monkey ventures to offer a visit of curiosity, the toucan gives him such a welcome, that he is soon glad to escape.

This bird is a native of Guinea and Brazil, and is said to be in great request in South America; both from the delicacy of its flesh, and on account of the beauty of its plumage, particularly the plumage of the breast. The skin of this part the Indians pluck off, and, when dry, glue to their cheeks: this they consider an irresistible

addition to their beauty. It is probable that these birds have more than one brood in the year.

They generally feed on fruits, and are continually moving from place to place in quest of food, going northward or southward as the fruits ripen.-These birds when in flocks, on retiring to rest, generally appoint one to watch during the night.

THIS is a very beautiful bird for colour, and somewhat resembles the cuckoo; but it is easily distinguished from all other birds, by the structure of its bill and feet: its bill, in proportion to its body, is the least of all birds, and a little crooked: it has a huge wide mouth and swallow. On the sides of the upper mandible, as also beneath the lower one, are some black hairs, like bristles; the under side of the body is painted with black and red; the legs are very small in proportion, feathered in front half way.

It frequents rocks, caverns, and ruined buildings, and builds its nest, which is constructed in the rudest manner, in the most retired places; it lays five eggs, spotted with white and yellow. It sees better in the day-time than other small birds on the wing; it likewise feeds on mice, which it tears to pieces with its bill and claws, and swallows them by morsels: it is said to pluck the birds which it kills before it eats them, in which it differs from all the other owls. It is rarely met with in England: it is sometimes found in Yorkshire, Flintshire, and in the neighbourhood of London.

ALL water-fowl generally fall under three natural divisions, viz. those of the gull kind, that with long legs and round bills, fly along the surface of the water, to seize their prey;-those of the penguin kind, that with round bills, short wings, and legs hid in the abdomen, dive in quest of food;-and, lastly, those of the goose kind, with flat broad bills, that lead harmless lives, and chiefly subsist upon insects and vegetables.-In describing the birds of these classes, therefore, we shall put the most remarkable of each at the beginning of their respective tribes, and the more ordinary sorts will naturally follow. We must, however, previously give the history of the above bird, which, from the singularity of its conformation, seems allied to no particular species.

The pelican of Africa resembles the swan in shape and colour, but far exceeds it in size. The singularity, however, which distinguishes it from all other birds, is in the bill and the great pouch underneath, which merit a particular description.

The bill of this bird is fifteen inches long, from the point to the opening of the mouth, which is a good way behind the eyes: it is very thick at the base, where it is of a greenish tint, but tapers off towards the end, which curves downward, and is of a redish blue: at the lower edge of the under chap hangs a pouch, capable of containing fifteen quarts of water, and reaching the whole length of the bill to the neck; this bag is covered with a very soft and smooth down, and, when empty, is scarcely