icate nature; the external
parts being formed of a little grey lichen found on the branches of the
trees, glued together by the saliva of the bird, and neatly arranged
round the whole of the nest, as well as to some distance from the spot
where it is attached to the branch or stem itself. The interior is
lined with a cottony substance; and the innermost, with the silky fibres
obtained from various plants. Within this little nest the female
humming-bird lays two white and nearly oval eggs; generally raising two
broods in the season. In one week, says Audubon, the young are ready to
fly, but are fed by the parents for nearly another week. They receive
their food direct from the bill of their parents, who disgorge it in the
manner of canaries and pigeons. It is my belief that no sooner are the
young able to provide for themselves than they associate with other
broods, and perform their migrations apart from the old birds, as I have
observed twenty or thirty young humming-birds resort to a group of
trumpet-flowers, when not a single old bird was to be seen.

The plumage of the female is in most respects like that of the male,
except that she is not possessed of the brilliant feathers on the throat
which especially distinguish him.

Although there are several other species of humming-birds which live
permanently in the Southern States of the Union, or migrate northward in
summer, we cannot now inspect them. We shall have, however, many
opportunities of examining a number of the species when we come to visit
South America. Although the number of birds and the variety of their
species inhabiting North America is very great, except those we have
mentioned, they do not in general possess any very interesting
peculiarity, which might tempt us to linger longer amongst them, and we
will therefore wander on and inspect some of the curious reptiles which
inhabit various parts of the American States and Canada.

THE COW-BIRD.

The well-known spring visitor to the woods of England,--the cuckoo,--is
undoubtedly destitute of family affection, as are others of its
relatives; but this is not the case with the whole tribe. As the spring
advances, from the sylvan glades of Pennsylvania a curious note,
constantly repeated, is heard, resembling the word "cow-cow." It is the
note of a bird, and from the sound it resembles it is generally known as
the "cow-bird." It is also called the "yellow-billed cuckoo." It is in
no respect be