they do not attack sound trees, because insects do not abound in them as they do in the trunks and limbs of those less vigorous and healthy.-W.K."

SONG OF THE NUTHATCH.

Lone forest-bird, in thee I find,
Meet emblem of the cultured mind,
That passes on from day to day,
Still gath'ring treasures on its way,
And heaping up a precious store
From nature's gifts, and bookmen's lore;
Sweet flowers that do not fade with time,
And fruits that still retain their prime
Through all the wint'ry hours of age,
As in our earlier pilgrimage.

Lone bird, who lov'st the forest shrine,
Creatures more blest than thee and thine,
With gladness hail the welcome hours,
That lead them to the forest bowers;
And there are minds of loftier tone,
Souls that a purer influence own,
Who seek and find, while yet on earth,
Pleasures that claim celestial birth,
And in some calm retirement love
To plume their wings and soar above.

Oh! worldly spirits cannot tell
How sweet it is with these to dwell;
All their supplies unfailing are,
Their table spread with angels' fare;
On food the world knows not they feed,
Still richest in their hour of need.
Gifts from the promised land are theirs,
Fruits that the vine of Eschol bears,
And heaven's own dews descending bless,
Their sojourn in the wilderness.

ORDER PASSERES.

Humming-Bird.

Trochilus.

THESE beautiful little creatures are the most diminutive of all the feathered race. They are found only in America, and most abundantly in the hottest parts of South America, between the tropics. There are birds which very much resemble them, found both in Asia and Africa; but they differ in some respects, and naturalists now call them by other names, and confine that of humming-bird to these little gems of the American forest. The brightness of their colours, and the elegance of their forms, can only be imagined by those who have seen them. When flying in the sun, they look as if they were covered with gems and gold. The native American Indians, struck with the splendour of their hues, have called them "the hairs of the sun." The smallest humming-bird is of a grey violet colour, and the size of a bee. There are others, three or four inches long; and one, called the giant hum

ming-bird, is about the size of the common martin. Little idea of the brilliancy of their colouring can be conveyed by description, as we have before observed; and yet the very reading of such exquisite hues excites the imagination, and makes a bright vision of these gleaming creatures float before our eyes. Here is one, the amethyst humming-bird: "throat and part of the neck brilliant amethyst, changing into purple brown.” Here is the Surinam humming-bird: "green gold above, beneath greyish white; crescent of red on the breast." Here is another from Nootka Sound: "head rich variable green and gold, ruby-coloured ruff round the neck." Now look at the superb humming-bird: "crown of head sky-blue; throat brilliant scarlet; back, wings, and tail, gold green; pale beneath." Some of these beautiful creatures have splendid tufts on their heads. One has a crest of emerald green: another, of the brightest glossy blue: another, a large cluster of violet plumes: another has a gold tuft over each eye. Are not your eyes dazzled by these brilliant colours? Truly we could fancy ours are while we write of them.

The flight of these little birds is so rapid, that the motion of the wings cannot be perceived; and when the bird is hovering in the air, it appears to be quite immoveable. The quick motion