darker colour. They hatch for about thirty days, and the young ones run about as soon as they are out of the shell. The Bustard is not known in America.

This bird is one of the most extraordinary in the world. It is remarkable for a monstrous bill, which is from six to seven inches in length, and in some places two in breadth, the whole being extremely slight, and a little thicker than parchment. The plumage of this bird is dark, spotted with blue, purple, yellow and other colours that produce a very beautiful effect. The legs, feet, and claws are of an ash colour; and the toes stand like those of parrots, two before, and two behind. The tongue is

feathered at the edges, and, as well as the inside of the mouth, is of a deep red.

The Toucan is easily tamed, and will become very familiar, eating almost any thing offered to it. In general, it feeds upon fruits. In its wild state it is a noisy bird, perpetually moving from place to place in search of food. It is particularly fond of grapes. If these are plucked from the stalk, one by one, and thrown to it, the Toucan will catch them with great dexterity before they fall to the ground.

When in flocks, these birds generally appoint one of their number to watch through the night. While they are asleep, he sits perched at the top of a tree above them, making a continual noise, resembling ill-articulated sounds, and moving his head during the whole time to the right and left. From this circumstance, the South Americans have given this bird the name of the Preacher.

This little bird is remarkable for its beauty, minuteness, want of song, and manner of feeding. There are upwards of seventy species in America, and the adjacent islands, only one of which is found in the United States.

This is found in Canada in great numbers, where it arrives from the south. It is wonderful how such a little creature can make its way over such extensive regions of lakes and forests. But it is protected by its very minuteness, the rapidity of its flight, and its admirable instinct and courage.

The nest of this little bird is fixed on the upper side of the branch of a tree. It has sometimes been known to build on an old moss-grown trunk, or on a strong weed in the garden. This nest is about an inch in diameter, and an inch deep, formed of lichen, wings of certain flying seeds, and the downy substance from the great mullein. The eggs are two, of a pure white. If any one approaches the nest, the little proprietors dart around with a humming sound, frequently passing within a few inches of his head. Their only note is a single chirp, not louder than that of a cricket or grasshopper.

The Humming-Bird is universally beloved. His flight from flower to flower very much resembles that of a bee, but is much more rapid. He sometimes enters a room by the window, examines the bouquets of flowers, and passes out by the opposite door or window. Besides the honey which he extracts from flowers, the little creature feeds sometimes upon insects.

This bird is three inches and a half in length, and of a rich golden green colour. The feathers round his throat are black, crimson and orange mingled together, giving him a very brilliant appearance.

THE FLAMINGO

This is one of the tallest and most beautiful of water fowl. The body is of a rich scarlet, and is no bigger than that of the Swan; but its legs and neck are of such extraordinary length, that when standing erect it is six

feet six inches high. The head is round and small, with a crooked bill seven inches long.

This bird is now chiefly found in America, but was once known on all the coasts of Europe. It is still occasionally met with on the shores of the Mediterranean. Its beauty, its size and the peculiar delicacy of its flesh have been such temptations to destroy or take it, that it has long since deserted the shores frequented by man, and taken refuge in countries, that are as yet but thinly peopled.

The Flamingo is one of the scarcest and shyest birds in the world. It chiefly keeps near the most deserted and inhospitable shores; near salt water lakes and swampy island. When seen by mariners in the day, they always appear drawn up in a long close line of two or three hundred together. They always appoint one of their number as a watch, to observe and give notice of danger while the rest are feeding. As soon as this trusty sentinal perceives any appearance of danger, he gives a loud shrill scream, and the whole band are instantly upon the wing. The flesh of this bird is black and hard, though well tasted; the tongue has been considered a very great luxury.

The nest of the Flamingo is extremely curious. It is built in a marsh, raised from the surface of the water about a foot and a half, formed of mud scraped into a heap and hardened by the sun. On the top it is hollowed out to the shape of the bird, and the female lays her eggs, in this cavity, which has no lining but the mud