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EDINBURGH:

W. II. LI ZAKS .

LONDON. SAMUEL HIGHLEY 32. FLEET STREET
DUBLIN. W CURUY .TUN" & C«

THE

NATURALIST’S LIBRARY.

EDITED BT

SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, BART.,

F.R.S.E., F.L.S., ETC., ETC.

YOL. VI.

ORNITHOLOGY.
HUMMING BIRDS. — Part I.
BY THE EDITOR.

EDINBURGH:

W. H. LIZARS, 3, ST. JAMES’ SQUARE.

LONDON : S. HIGHLEY, FLEET STREET ;

T. NELSON, PATERNOSTER ROW. DUBLIN : W. CURRY, JUN. & CO.
MANCHESTER : J. AINSWORTH, 93, PICCADILLY ;

AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

FEINTED BY W. H. LIZARS, EDINBURGH.

CONTENTS

TO

VOLUME FIRST.

Page

Advertisement, .... 17

Memoir of Linnaeus, . . . .25

Natural History of Humming-Birds, . • 93

Descriptions, . . . . .117

Spotted Saw-Billed Humming-Bird.

1 lamphodon ncevius. Male. Plate I. . 119

Avoset-Billed Humming-Bird.

Trochilus avocetta. Plate II. . .122

Recurved- Billed Humming-Bird.

Trochilus recurvirostris. Young. Plate III. 124
Rufous- Bellied Humming-Bird.

Trochilus rufigaster. Male. Plate IV. . 127
The Northern Humming-Bird.

Trochilus coluhris • Plate V. . . . 129

Dutchess of Rivoli’s Humming-Bird.

Trochilus Anna* Plate VI. . . 137

Blue- Green Humming-Bird.

Trochilus cyaneus. Plate VII. . . 139

Golden- Green Humming-Bird.

Trochilus prasina. Plate VIII. . 141

CONTENTS.

Page

Azure- Crowned Humming-Bird.

Trochilus quadricolor . Plate IX. . 14*3

Delalande’s Humming-Bird.

Trochilus Delalandii. Plate X. . 145

Ruby-Crested Humming-Bird.

Trochilus moschitus. Plate XI. . 147

Violet- Crowned Humming-Bird.

Trochilus sephanoides. Plate XII. . 150

Violet-Tufted Humming-Bird.

Trochilus petasophorus. Plate XIII. . 152

Natterer’s Humming- Bird.

Trochilus scutatus. Plate XIV. . . 154

The Tufted-Necked Humming-Bird.

Trochilus ornatus. Adult Male. Plate XV. 156
The Tufted-Necked Humming-Bird.

Trochilus ornatus . Female. Plate XVI. 158
Audenet’s Humming-Bird.

Trochilus Audenetii . Plate XVII. . 159

Vieillot’s Humming-Bird.

Trochilus chahjheus. Plate XVIII. . . 161

Magnificent Humming-Bird.

Trochilus magnificus. Young Male. Plate XIX. 163
Magnificent Humming-Bird.

Trochilus magnificus. Female. Plate XX. 165
Double- Crested Humming-Bird.

Trochilus cornutus. Male. Plate XXI. 166

Double- Crested Humming-Bird.

Trochilus cornutus. Female. Plate XXII. 168
Violet Forked-Tailed Humming-Bird.

Trochilus furcatus. Plate XXIII. . . 169

The Evening Humming-Bird.

Trochilus vesper. Male. Plate XXIV. 171

The Cora Humming-Bird.

Trochilus cora. Plate XXV. . 173

CONTENTS.

Page

Dupont’s Humming-Bird.

Trochilus Dupont ii. Plate XXVI. , 175

Half-Tailed Humming-Bird.

Trochilus enicurus. Plate XX VII. . 177

Sapphire- Throated Humming-Bird.

Trochilus sapphirinus. Plate XXVIII. 179

White- Eared Humming-Bird.

Trochilus leucotis . Plate XXIX. • 181

White- Collared Humming-Bird.

Trochilu< mellivorus. Plate XXX. . 183

Harlequin Humming-Bird.

Trochilus multicolor . Plate XXXI. . 185

Black- Breasted Humming-Bird.

Trochilus gramineus. Adult Male. Plate XXXII. 187
Black- Breasted Humming-Bird.

Trochilus (jramineus. Young. Plate XX XI II. 189
Blue- Throated Sabre- Wing.

Trochilus latipennis. Plate XXXIV. . 19*1

ANECDOTES OF LINMUS.

ANECDOTES OF LINN^US.

All authentic particulars, which can contribute to
a stricter knowledge of the life, character, and pe-
culiarities of a man who has rendered himself as
eminent and as immortal as Linnseus, cannot fail to
prove agreeable and interesting. We shall therefore
subjoin here those anecdotes which Professor Fabri-
cius of Kiel, one of bis most celebrated pupils, has
collected respecting him.

“ For two whole years,” relates Fabricius, namely
from 1762 till 1764, “ have I been so fortunate as
to enjoy his instruction, his guidance and his con-
fidential friendship. Not a day elapsed, on which
I did not see him, on which I was not either pre-
sent at his lectures, or as it frequently happened,
spent several hours with him in familiar conversa-
tion. In summer we followed him into the country.
We were three, Ivhun, Zoega, and I, all foreigners.
In winter we lived directly facing his house, and he
came to us almost every day, in his short red robe
de chambre, with a green fur cap on his head and a

VOL. VI.

a

11 ANECDOTES OF EINNA3US.

pipe in his hand. He came for half an hour, but
stopped a whole one, and many times two. His con-
versation on these occasions was extremely sprightly
and pleasant. It either consisted in anecdotes rela-
tive to the learned in his profession, with whom
he got acquainted in foreign countries, or in cloaring
up our doubts, or giving us othor kinds of instruc-
tion. He used to laugh then most heartily, aud
displayed a serenity and an openness of countenance,
which proved how much his soul was susceptible of
amity and good fellowship.

“ Our life was much happier when we resided in
the country. Our habitation was about half a quarter
of a league distant from his house at Ilammarby, in
a farm where we kept our own furniture and other
requisites for housekeeping. He rose very early in
summer, and mostly about four o’clock. At six he
came to us because his house was then building,
breakfasted with us, and gave lectures upon the na-
tural order of plants ( ordines not ur ales plantar um J,
as long as he pleased, and generally till about ten
o’clock. We then wandered about till twelve upon
the adjacent rocks, the productions of which afforded
us plenty of entertainment. In the afternoon we
repaired to his garden, and in the evening wo mostly
played at tho Swedish game of trissett, in company
with his spouse.

“ On Sundays the whole family usually came tc
spend the day with us. We sent for a peasant who
played on an instrument resembling a violin, at the
sound of which we danced in the bam of our farm-

ANECDOTES OP L1NNALCS.

Ill

house. Our balls were certainly not very splendid,
the company but small, the music superlatively
rustic, and no change in the dances, which were
constantly either minuets or Polish ; but regardless
of these wants, we passed our time very merrily
While we were dancing, the old man, who smoked
his pipe with Zoega, who was deformed by nature,
and emaciated, became a spectator of our amuse-
ment, and sometimes, though very rarely, danced a
Polish dance, in which he excelled every one of us
young men. He was extremely delighted whenever
he saw us in high glee, nay, if we even became very
noisy ; had he not always found us so, he would
have manifested his apprehensions lest we should
not be sufficiently entertained. Those days, those
hours, shall never he erased from my memory, and
every remembrance of them is grateful to my
heart !

“ What made him so excessively kind towards
us was, because we were foreigners, and besides
some Russians who did not bestow great pains upon
their studies, we also were those who alone adhered
to him, who alone heard and attended him, and re-
mained at Upsal entirely on his account. He found
that we loved his science, and that we proved this
love by a most zealous application to its different
pursuits. He felt, therefore, great pleasure in con-
vincing his own countrymen, that his science would
be esteemed abroad, even when it should begin to
decline in Sweden. He was also fond of conversa-
tion on all subjects relative to natural history, for

IV ANECDOTES OF LINNiEUS.

which he had but too little opportunity at Upsal.
That science almost entirely engrossed his speech,
and every thought of his mind ; and being the only
naturalist then at that university, such a privation
must have occasioned to him a great deal of irk-
someness.

“ When I got acquainted with Sir Charles Lin-
n;eus, who was then in his fifty-sixth year, increasing
age had already furrowed bis front with wrinkles.
His countenance was open, almost constantly serene,
and bore great resemblance to his portrait in the
Species Plantarum. But his eyes, — of all the eyes
I ever saw, — were tho most beautiful. They cer-
tainly were but little, but darted a refulgent splen-
dour and a penetration of aspect which I never
observed before in any other man. It sometimes
appeared to me, as if his looks would penetrate
through the very innermost recesses of the heart.

“ His mind w T as remarkably noble and elevated,
though I well know that some persons accused him
of several faults ; the acutoness and energy of his
mental faculties, even shone through his eyes. But
his greatest excellence consisted in the systematical
order by which his thoughts succeeded each other.
Whatever he said or did was faithful to order, to
truth, and to regularity. In his youth his memory
was uncommonly vigorous, but it began to sink
early into decay. Even wdien I was with him, he
could not sometimes remember the names of his
dearest friends and relatives. I still recollect to
have seen him once very much embarrassed, when,

ANECDOTES OF DINNA3DS. V

after writing a letter to Morans, his father in-law,
at Fahlun, he almost found it impossible to recollect
his name.

“ His passions were strong and violent. His
heart was open to every impression of joy ; and he
loved jocularity, conviviality and good living. He
was an excellent companion, pleasant in conversa-
tion, full of strong hits of fancy and seasonable and
entertaining stories ; but at tho same time, suddenly
roused to anger and boisterous ; the sudden effer-
vescence of this fiery passion subsided, however,
almost at the very moment of its birth, and he im-
mediately became all plain good-nature again. His
friendship was 9ure and invariable. Science was
generally its basis ; and every one who knew him
must own what concern he always manifested for
his pupils, and with how much zeal they returned
his friendship, and frequently became his defenders.
He was so fortunate as to find among his favourites
none that were ungrateful ; even Rolander deserved
more to be pitied than blamed.

“ The ambition of Linnaeus know no bounds ; and
his motto, Famam Extendcre Factis , was tho real
mirror of his soul.* But this ambition never ex-
tended beyond the regions of his science, and it

* Linnseus commonly wrote this motto in the memorial
books presented to him by his continental friends ; the late
celebrated Chevalier Ihre, who, though a sincere friend of
LinnsBUS, disliked nevertheless all ostentation, inserted fre-
quently opposite tho writing of Linnreus these words, “ Non
magna swat , quee tument

VI

ANECDOTES OF LINNiEUS.

never degenerated into surly or offensive pride. He
certainly did not care much for the opinion of his
coteniporaries, and only heeded that which pro-
ceeded from those who were men of genuine literary
merit. His way of living was moderate and parsi-
monious, his dress plain, and oftentimes even shabby.
The high rank to which his King had raised him,
pleased him only as far as he considered it as a
proof of his scientific greatness.

“ In the pursuits of his studies he could but ill
brook contradiction and opposition. He corrected
his works agreeable to the just remarks of his
friends, whose hints he received with gratitude ; —
but the attacks of his opponents he despised, and

stead of answering, he consigned them to that
obscurity and oblivion in which they have long ago
been buried. Notwithstanding this, he could not
easily forgive aggressions, and strained every nerve
'to erase them from the annals of literature. He
was liberal in dispensing praise, because he was
fond of being flattered ; and this, indeed, may be
considered as his greatest foible. At the same time,
his ambition was founded upon the consciousness
of his own greatness, and upon the merits which he
acquired in a science, over which he had for so
many years wielded the sceptre of sovereignty.
Tournefort, as he often told me, was his pattern in
his youth ; he did all he could to equal him, and
found at last, that he had left Tournefort at a great
distance beneath him.

“ Linnaeus has been particularly charged with

ANECDOTES OF LINNjEUS. vii

avarice. It cannot be denied, that his way of living,
considering his good circumstances, was very mode-
rate, and that he surely did not despise gold. But
if I weigh in my mind, those extremes of poverty,
which so long and so heavily overwhelmed him, I
can easily account for this parsimony. But I could
not say that his frugality ever degenerated into
sordid avarice. I can even prove quite the con-
trary by my own experience. After having given
us lectures all the summer round, we were not only
obliged to urge him to receive the fee due for these
lectures, but even to leave the money slyly upon
his chest, as he had signified his resolution not to
take it, in a final and peremptory manner.

“ He was not quite happy and comfortable in his
own family. Ilis wife was tall, robust, domineer-
ing, selfish, and destitute of every advantage of a
good education. She frequently robbed us of the
joys which gilded our social moments. Unable to
hold any conversation in decent company, she con-
sequently was never much fond of it herself.

“ Under those disadvantages, the education of
the children of Linnaeus could not but be of an in-
ferior description. The young ladies, his daughters,
are all good-tempered, but rough children of nature,
and deprived of those external accomplishments
which they might have derived from a better edu-
cation. The younger Linnaeus, who succeeded his
father in his professorship at Upsal, is certainly not
endowed with the same vivacity ; but the great
knowledge which he acquired by a constant practice

Vlll

ANECDOTES OP LINNjEUS

of botany, and by the many and excellent observa-
tions of his parent which ho found in his manu-
scripts, must have rendered him a very useful man
there. The eldest daughter, who married Capt. Yon
Bergencranz, returned afterwards to her parents,
and lived constantly in their house.

“ The merits of Linnaeus in the sciences are un-
commonly great. He not only enriched them con-
siderably himself, but formed also a great number
of pupils of the greatest scientific eminence. He
found means, partly by the charming method of de-
livering his lectures, partly by his excursions and
friendly demeanour, to inspire them with a love of
Natural History, which they always preserved after-
wards, and which induced them to undertake long
and important travels and voyages, and to enrich
their science at home by valuable tracts and obser-
vations. But few were those teachers, who had
the good fortune to form so great a number of dis-
ciples, who all contributed in some measure to ex-
tend the limits of their science; and thero is no
country but Sweden, which ever sent out so many
travellers to make discoveries in Natural History. —
Linnaeus was also my teacher, and I acknowledge
with emotion, how greatly indebted I am to him
for his lessons and his friendship.

“ Besides the labour which he bestowed upon
medicine, especially upon the Materia Medica and
Pathology, Nature was his principal occupation,
and proclaimed him also as the first darling of his
time. Great was he in discerning and arranging

ANECDOTES OP LINN-®T7S.

IX

the immensity of beings which cover the globe ;
and perhaps greater still in the extraordinary num-
ber of observations, and in the hypotheses which are
founded upon them, and gradually became theoreti-
cal truths. The hypotheses of Linnams indicate most
particularly the brilliancy of his imagination, and at
the same time, the strength of his judgment. Some
of them appear extremely bold and venturesome at
first; but upon closer inspection, we find the ob-
servations in Nature on which they are founded,
and must acknowledge them afterwards, if not as
true, at least as probable and as deserving of a more
minute inquiry.

“ Among his manuscripts there must certainly
have been found many important remarks ; I should
have been very desirous of seeing those which re-
late to the general arrangement of Nature. He
must have collected the most interesting observa-
tions on this head. Ho contemplated Nature with
the greatest accuracy, and with so much knowledge
and judicous skill, as to have penetrated into her
most secret mysteries. But he dared not, as he him-
self assured me, publish those observations during
his life, because he was afraid of the excessive vio-
lence of the Swedish divines, who, frequently too
faithful and too bigotted to their own arguments, do
not consider, that Nature as well as Revelation,
proclaim, in unison of principle, the hands of that
Great Master who formed both. Linnaeus had the
example of his pupil Forskal before his eyes, who

X

ANECDOTES OF LINN_®US.

immediately after his return from Goettingen, saw
himself involved in so many theological disputes, as
would, perhaps, have hcen carried too far, had he
not left the field of litigation, by setting out on his
voyage to Arabia.

“ Linnoeus knew how to secure to himself, even
in his earlier days, that dominion over the three
reigns of Nature, which he preserved till death.

“ In mineralogy his very countrymen entered the
lists of contention against him. He certainly was
often attacked and censured with injustice ; and the
little inaccuracies, which will never fail to exist in
works of that importance, ought to have been pal-
liated and overlooked, on account of the other great
merits of their author. It is, however, an incontro-
vertible fact, that he first introduced systematic
regularity' in the mineral reign. He formed the
classes, and determined the genera and species by
regular distinctive marks, which he derived from the
external appearance. Thus mineralogy became a
regular science, after it had formerly been but a
chaos created by the miners, who used to discrimi-
nate the minerals partly by practice and partly by
firo. Linnajus having once left the mines, having
no laboratory, and being over-burdened by a multi-
plicity of other occupations, discontinued to exert
himself so much in mineralogy. His system is
however excellent, his hypothesis the fruit of the
ripest reflection, his description of the species is
excellent, and his observations truly important. In

ANECDOTES OF LINNjEDS.

XI

spite of all attacks, his name will likewise be handed
down in this science to the latest posterity.

“ The vegetable reign possessed the greatest
charms for Linnieus ; he bestowed npon it the best
share of his timo and abilities. When he first ap-
peared in the field of science in 1732, Toumefort’s
system of botany derived from the structure of the
inward cover of the flower, was every where popular
and universally accepted. But during the latter
part of its most flourishing epoch, a kind of bar-
barism was perceived in that system. A great num-
ber of new plants having been discovered, it so
happened that the characters of the inward cover of
the flower proved insuificient to distinguish one
from another with plainness and regularity. Bota-
nists began, therefore, to have recourse to the out-
ward appearance, and to copperplates, not without
prejudice to the certainty of the Teal system.

“ Linnaeus soon perceived the error and its real
foundation, in the want of sufficient and solid cha-
racters, which the inward cover of the flower could
never have procured. He songht, therefore, a safer
basis for his system, and took at first the outward
cover of the flower to effect his purpose. But he
found it equally insufficient. He ultimately exa-
mined the sex of the plants, which had in some
measure been already known before him, though
never used as a system. Upon these inquiries he
built his sexual system, which soon met with uni-
versal approbation and spread itself throughout Eu-

xii ANECDOTES OF TINNjEL’S.

rope. That he might render it the more firm and
imperishable, lie introduced the natural characters
of the genera, which he took from all the parts of
fructification, and from which he obtained a great
number of distinctive marks, which will never fail
accurately to point out the genera. He demon-
strated the true principles of a botanical system,
introduced a solid, certain, and definitive techno-
logy, and demonstrated the various errors of his
predecessors, which had made their systems totter,
and rendered uncertain the definition of the plants.
This laid the foundation of his authority in the
science of botany, which he extended still farther in
a most extraordinary manner, by the excellent, con-
cise, and plain Diffentim Speci/icce, by the trivial
names, and a solid and precise synonimy. After
the entire arrangement and completion of his system,
when the denomination and definition of plants
could no longer embarrass its progress, ho began to
give a great number of the descriptions of the new
species, which are all real master pieces, and the
knowledge of which he partly owed to his travels,
partly to his pupils, and from which the many edi-
tions and the important emendations of his system
have originated. He was, at the same time, ex-
tremely cautious in not mentioning any plant as a
species or as a genus, of which he either did not well
know the characters, or did not find them sufficiently
clear to his understanding. He acted thus, merely
that he might not prejudice the solidity of his
system.

ANECDOTES OF LINNA2US.

Xlll

•• The number of his new and important observa-
tions in botany is very great. They are for the
most part to be found in the collection of his aca-
demical dissertations. He also took uncommon
pains to finish his Ordines Natural a , or the natural
affinity which subsists among the plants ; but not-
withstanding the great extent of his exertions, those
productions only remained fragments, and many
plants still are left to which he could not assign a
place in their natural order. I wished at the same
time to get better acquainted with the distinctive
marks of his natural classes and with his observa-
tions upon them. He subjoined them finally,
though with too much laconism, to the last edition
of his Genera Plantarum, which was the result of
some lectures he gave us in summer, in the country,
upon the Natural Orders.

“ These are his merits in botany, to which he
gave a quite new appearance, and enriched with
many valuable remarks. — ‘ If we make conjecture
of the value of tho Linnasan method,’ says the cele-
brated Hill in his Vegetable System, ‘ it will live,
even when a natural method shall be found, as
long as there is science.’

“ Linnaeus manifested tho same spirit of syste-
matical order in the animal reign. He found it a
real chaos, in which the infinite number of animals
were confounded without characteristic distinction
and without order. There had hardly been any
regular and fixed classes introduced, at least not

XIV

ANECDOTES OF LINNAEUS.

among the smaller kinds of animals. But he made
it a regular science. He limited the various classes
by plain distinctive marks, introduced the solid
genera, determined the species, and took pains to
lessen the great number of variations. I must
freely own, that Linnaeus himself was very sensible
that his system of the animal reign was not built
upon so safe a foundation as his botany, and that
his generical characters were far more tottering and
more undefined. It is, however, the only system
which comprises tho whole animal reign, which is
certainly a great prerogative, if we only consider
the circumstances in which Linnams found that
science. It remained almost entirely uncultivated,
consisted only of a few descriptions which were
extremely deficient, and of a small number of
copperplates, so badly executed as hardly to bo dis-
cernible. In Ichthyology, he alone profited by the
labours of his ill-fated friend Artedi.

“ Linnaeus was likewise the first who separated
the worms from the insects, defined both classes by
real characters, and introduced genera, sorts, and
orders — a foundation upon which almost all his
successors built after him. He also augmented all
the different parts of the animal reign by a very
considerable number of new discovered species, by
exact and more accurate descriptions, and by a
great quantity of the most important discoveries,
which chiefly relate to animal (Economy.

“ Linnaeus was therefore a great man in all the

ANECDOTES OF EINNiEUS.

xv

branches of Natural History. His name will con-
sequently remain immortal in them all. Posterity
will admire the penetrating spirit, the precision, and
the energy, which shine forth in the works of that
original genius, who rendered his science the most
regular, and was the boast of his country and the
pride of his age.”

LIST

OP THE

WORKS OF LINNiEUS.

Hokttts Uplandicus, sive enumeratio Plantarum
exotiearum, Uplandiae, qua in hortis vel agris
coluntur, imprimis autem in horto academico Up-
saliensi. Upsal, 1731, 160 pages, 8vo. *

Florida Lapponica, qua continet catalogum plan-
tarum, quas per provincias Lapponicas Westrobot-
nienses observavit. — This work was written in the
year 1732, and inserted in the Ac(a Litteraria
Suecue of the same year.

Florulce Lapponicas, Pars Secunda. — His second
part of the Flora of Lapland is also inserted in
the Swedish Literary Transactions for the year
1735.

* This was the first production of Linmens, the first display
and observance of the Sexual System. Neither Haller nor any
other Literatus mentions it. The Florula Lapponica is gene-
rally alledged to be the first work of Linnaeus. But Linnseus
himself mentions the Hortm Uplwndwus , even the month of
its publication, and some words extracted from the preface.

b

VOL. VI.

xvm

LIST OP THE WORKS OP LINJLEUS.

Caroli Linncni Epistola de Itinere suo Lappo-

nico This Letter is subjoined in the Supplements,

also in the Commercia Litteraria Norimhergmsia
ad ret Median et Scientiw Naturalis incremental,
vol. iii. 4to. p. 73 and 74 ; and Heldom. 5, No. II.
p. 34.

Sy sterna Natures , sivc Regna tria Natural, syste-
matice proposita, per classes, ordines, genera et spe-
cies, Lugd. Batav. apud Haak, 1735, 14 pages
folio. First edition.

The Second Edition — Stockholm, ap. Kiese wet-
ter, 1 740, in octavo, 80 pages. Revised and aug-
mented by Linnteus, with the characters of the
genera and the names of the animals.

The Third Edition — Ilalle, by Gebauer, 1740,
seventy quarto pages, published with a preface by
J. J. Lange ; to which are added the German terms.
This is a mere copy of the Dutch edition.

The Fourth Edition — Paris, 1744, one hundred
and eight octavo pages, properly speaking, pub-
lished under the care of Dr. Ab. Bteck, who was
then at Paris, but augmented with the French
terms by Bernard de Jussieu ; is in other respects
a copy of the second edition, printed at Stock-
holm.

The Fifth Edition. — Halle, 1747, eighty-eight
octavo pages, by M. G. Agncthler, containing the
German terms : likewise a copy of the second edi-
tion, published at Stockholm.

The Sixth Edition. — Stockholm, 1748, in two
hundred and thirty-two octavo pages, with eight

LIST OP THE WORKS OF LINN.PUS.

XIX

plates, with the portrait of Linnasus, and aug-
mented by him with the distinctive marks of the
genera of plants, and a description of the species in
the animal and mineral reigns.

The Seventh Edition, — Leipsic, 1 748, two hun-
dred and thirty- two octavo pages, with eight plates,
a mere copy of the preceding edition, to which are
superadded the German terms.

The Eighth Edition. — Stockholm, 1753, one
hundred and thirty-six octavo pages, in Swedish ;
the Vegetable System, by J. J. Hartmann ; the
Mineral System, by M. Moeller.

Tho Ninth Edition — Leyden, 1756, two hundred
and twenty-eight octavo pages, published by Gro-
nov, junior, with some botanical and entomological
additions, after De Geer and Reaumur, in other
respects perfectly like the sixth edition.

The Tenth Edition. — Lucca, 1758, under the
title of “ Caroli Linnasi Opera Varia, in quibus con-
tinentur Fundamenta Botanices, Sponsalia Planta-
rum et Systema Natura, ex typ. Junctiniana
merely a copy of the preceding edition with the
French names.

The Eleventh Edition. — Linnasus reckons this as
the 'Tenth. — Stockholm, by Salvius, 1758 and 1759,
two volumes. The first volume contains the ani-
mals, with the synonyms, in eight hundred and
twenty-one pages ; the second contains the mine-
rals in five hundred and sixty pages ; this edition
is considerably augmented, the following three are
copied :

XX LIST OP THE WORKS OF LINNJBUS.

The Twelfth Edition. — Halle, 1760, in two
volumes octavo, by J. J. Curt, with a preface of
J. J. Lange.

The Thirteenth Edition. — Leipsic, 1762, two
volumes in octavo ; a mere speculation of a greedy
bookseller, without additions, and abounding with
errors. Linnams reckoned this as the eleventh edi-
tion.

The Fourteenth Edition. — Tomi ii. Pars. i. et iii.
Pars. i. Hague, 1765, folio; as bad as the pre-
ceding, with ten very inaccurate plates on the
three first Classes of the System.

The Fifteenth Edition. — (According to Linnaeus,
the Twelfth ) — The last which was published under
his own care and inspection ; it bears the follow-
ing title :

Systema Naturae per Regna tria Naturae, secun-
dum classes, ordines, genera et species, cum cliarac-
teribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Holm, apud
Salvium, 1766-68, three volumes in octavo, the
first of which contains the Animal System, in one
thousand three hundred and twenty-seven pages ;
the second the Botanical System, in seven hundred
and thirty-six pages ; and the third the Minerals,
in two hundred and thirty-six pages. The third
volume was separately printed at Halle, in 1770,
with plates.

Sixteenth Edition. — A copy of the preceding
Stockholm edition, Vienna, at Trattner’s, 3 vols.

1767, 1770.

Seventeenth Edition. — (According to Linnieu;

LIST OF THE WORKS OF LINNjEUS.

XXI

the thirteenth, called in the title the Eleventh ) —
Aucta, reformata, cura J. F. Gmelin, Leipsic, 1 788,
the six volumes of the first part in large octavo,
comprising altogether three thousand nine hundred
and nine pages. The first part, which contains the
Animal reign, is completed in the six volumes.

And Tom. ii. Pars Prima et Secunda, Leipsic,
1792. The first part, of eight hundred and eighty-
four pages in octavo, comprises, with new genera
and species of near one hundred botanists, the
twelve first Classes of the Linnean System.

No nation can produce so complete a repertory
of Natural History as the above. With infinite
labour, exertion, and judgment, all the recent dis-
coveries and observations in all the branches of
Natural Science, have been united in it.

In the Animal reign, the works of Sehreber,
Pennant, Fabricius, Goetz, Schroeter, Muller, Cron-
stedt. Yon Yeltheim, Bergmann, Kirwan, Bloch,
Herbst, Stoll, Yoigt, Fuessli, Sestini, Buff'on, Adan-
son, Camper, and the Travels of Pallas, Sonnerat,
Leslie, Lcpechin, Guldenstrodt, Peyrouse, Rasu-
mowsky, and of an infinite number of other learned
men, have been consulted.

Had Linnaeus even enjoyed a longer life, no such
enlargement and perfection of his code of nature
could have been expected from him in the North. *

* Linnaeus himself 'wrote to Professor Gieseke, on the
20th of December, 1774, as follows: — •“ Naturae Seientia in
dies augetur tot novis inventis, ut vix ea eomprehendere
valeam.

XXII

LIST OF THE WORKS OF LINN-2SUS.

If we reckon the great number of editions copied
in distant climes from the System of Nature of
Linnasus, their number must probably amount to
between twenty and thirty.

Even at Batavia, a society of literati, resident
there, caused an extract of the Linnean System to
be published in quarto, with the names in the
Malay language added to it.

SUPPLEMENTS

WRITTEN BY LINN/EUS HIMSELF.

Caroli Linn a! i Corollarium Generum Plantarum ;
cui accedit Methodus Sexualis. Lugd. Batay. 1737,
octavo.

Caroli Linnasi Decern Plantarum Genera et addi-
tamenta ad Generum editionem secundam, in the
Acta Societ. Scient. Upsal, 1741, seventy-eight
pages.

Mantissa Plantarum, Generum editionis sext*
et epecierum Editionis secundas. Holm. 1767, one
hundred and forty-two pages in octavo.

Mantissa Plantarum altera. Holm. 1771, five
hundred and fifty-eight pages in octavo.

Essay of a German Nomenclature of the Genera
of Linnasus, by J. Planer. Erfurt, 1771, two hun-
dred and twenty-four pages in octavo. German.

Charles Yon Linne’s Genera of Plants and their
natural distinctive marks, from the number, form,
situation, and proportion of all the parts of the
flower ; translated according to the sixth edition,
and the first and second Mantissa, by J. J. Planer.
Gotha, 1775, two volumes in octavo. German.

XXIV

SUPPLEMENTS BY LINNjEUS.

Traducion de las Generos de las Plantas de Lin-
neo, per D. Antonio Capdevila, Medico in esta
Corte, Professor Real de Botanica, Socio de la Real
Sociedad de las Ciencias de Gottingen, &c. en Ma-
drid, 1774. Spanish.

Het. xix. Classe van de Genera Plantarum van
de Heer Linnaeus, Syngenesia genaamt; opgehel-
dert en vermcedert, &c. door David Meese, te Leu-
warden, 1761, large octavo. Dutch.

A. C. Ernsting’s Historical and Physical Descrip-
tion of the Genera of Plants, to which has been
added Linnaeus’s systematic list of the genera of
plants. Lemgo, 1762, two vols. quarto. German.

On some artificial Genera of the Family of the
Malvaj, also of the Classes of the Monadelphios, to
which is added an opinion upon the Linnean Ge-
nera and their Classification, &c. by F. C. Medicus.
Manheim, 1 787, one hundred and fifty-eight pages
in octavo. German.

Viridarium Cliffortianum. Amstel. apud Schou-
ten, 1737, octavo.

Horlus Clifforlianus , plantas exhibens, quas in
hortis tam vivis, quam siccis, Hartecampi in Hol-
landia coluit Vir nobil. et gcner. Georgius Cliffort,
J. V. D. reductis varietatibus ad species, speciebus
ad genera, generibus ad classes, adjectis locis plan-
tarum natalihus, differentiisque specierum. Amstel.
1737, five hundred and two pages in folio, with
thirty-two copperplates.

The First Edition. — Flora Lapponica, exhibens
plantas, per Lapponiam crescentes, secundum Sys-

SUPPLEMENTS BY LINNAEUS.

XXV

tema Sexuale, collectas itinere impensis Societ. Reg.
Litterar. Scientiar. Sueci®, anno 1732 instituta,
additis synonymis et locis natalibus omnium, descrip-
tionibus et figuris rarioram, viribus medicatis et
ceconomicis plurimarum Amstcl. ap. Schouten, 1737,
three hundred and seventy-two pages, in octavo,
with plates.

The Second Edition. — Aucta et correcta, auct.
J. E. Smith, London, 1 792.

The First Edition. — Critica Botanica, in qua
nomina plantarum generica, specifica et variantia
examini subjiciuntur, selectiora confirmantur, in-
digna rejiciuntur, simulque doctrina circa denorni-
nationem plantarum traditur ; cui accedit Browallii
Discursus de introducenda in scholas Historian Na-
turalis lectione. Lugd. Batav. apud Wishof, 1737,
two hundred and twenty pages in octavo.

The Second Edition Critica Botanica Linntei,

cum dissertatione de vita et scriptis auctoris. edit, a
J. E. Gilibert, Colon. 1788.

Tho First Edition — Classes Plantarum, seu Sys-
tema Plantarum ; omnia, a fructificatione desumta,
quorum sexdecim universalia et tredecim parti-
culars, compendiose proposita secundum classes,
ordines et nomina generica, cum clave cujusvis
methodi et synonymis genericis. Lugd. Batav.
apud Wishof, 1738, six hundred and fifty-six pages
in octavo.

The Second Edition. — Hal®, apud Birwirth, 1747,
in octavo.

Supplements and Continuations of the Linnsean

XXVI

SUPPLEMENTS BY LINNLEUS.

Collection of Botanical Systems, are to be found in
the Botanical Magazine of Roemer and Uteri, pub-
lished at Zurich. No. I. 1787, begins with the
System of Prof. Allioni at Turin. German.

The First Edition — Petri Artedi, Sueci Medici,
Ichthyologia, sive opera omnia de piscibus ; scilicet
Bibliotheca Ichtliyologica ; Genera Piscium ; Syno-
nyma Specierum et Dcscriptiones ; omnia in hoc
genera perfectiora quam antea ulla. Posthuma vin-
dicavit, recognovit, coaptavit et edidit. Carolus Lin-
n®us. Lugd. Batav. apud Wishof, 1738, in octavo,
five hundred and fifty-six pages.

The Second Edition. — Aucta et Emcndata. A. J.
J. Walbaum, Gryphishw. 1788, and 1791, three
volumes in quarto.

Petri Artedi, Synonvma Piscium Graeca et Latina,
emendata, illustrata atque aucta; seu Specimen
Historic Literari® Piscium ; cum Hippopotami
V eterum Historia Critica. Auctore J. Gotti. Schnei-
der, Leips. 1789.

ORATIONS OF LINNAEUS.

'I’m: First Edition — Tal om Merkieaerdigheten uti
Insecterne. Stockholm, 1739, octavo. — This oration
was made by Linnaaus in the Swedish language,
when he resigned his office as President of the
Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm.

The Second Edition — Translated into Dutch. —
Leyden, 1741, in octavo.

The Third Edition — Oratio de memorabilibus in
Insectis; Latine vertit. Abrah. Bieck. Paris, 1743
Inserted in the Amoenitat. Acad. vol. vi.

The Fourth Edition — Reprinted in Swedish.
Stockholm, 1 747, in octavo.

The Fifth Edition — Stockholm, 1 752, in octavo,
with the insects numbered as in Fauna Suecica.

The Sixth Edition — Translated into German in the
Universal Repository of Nature, Art, and Science.

Leips. 1754, vol. ii. page three hundred et seq

German.

The Seventh Edition — Also in German, translated
from the last Swedish edition, by C. H. Groening.
Schwerin, 1784, octavo.

xxvin

ORATIONS OP LINNAEUS.

The First Edition — Oratio de Peregrinationum
intra Palriam Necessitate. Upsal, 1742, quarto ;
delivered when Linnaeus assumed his professorial
functions.

The Second Edition — Eadem Oratio — acccdit
Elenchus Animalium Sued* ■ Browallii Exainen
Epicriseos Siegesbeckianas et Gesneri Dissertatio de
Vegetabilibus. Lugd. Batav. apud Haak, 1743,
octavo.

The Third Edition — Inserted in the Amoenitat.
Acad., vol. ii.

The First Edition — Orbis Eruditi Judicium de
Car. Linnaei, M. D. Seriptis. Upsal, 1741, one
small octavo sheet.

Linnaeus published the above pamphlet in an
anonymous manner, chiefly to vindicate himself
against the attacks of Wallerius.

The Second Edition — In the Collectio Epistola-
rum Carol! a Linne ; accedunt opuscula pro et contra
Linne scripta extra Sueciam rarissima ; edid. D. 11.
Stoever. Hamburg, apud Hoffmann, 1792, oc-
tavo.

The First Edition. — Oratio de telluris habitahilis
incremento Upsal, 1743, quarto.

The Second Edition — una cum Andr. Celsii ora-
tione de mutationibus generalibus, quae in super-
ficie corporum coelestium contingunt. Ludg. Batav.

1 744, one hundred and four pages in octavo.

The Third Edition — Reprinted in the Amoenitat
Acad. vol. vi.

The Fourth Edition — Translated into German

ORATIONS OP LINNASUS.

XXIX

in the Universal Magazine of Nature, Art, and
Sciences. Leipsic, vol. vii. page 37, et seq.

The Fifth Edition — Translated into Swedish by
the title : Tal om Jordens tilvaxt. Stockholm, 1 776,
in octavo.

Thoughts on the Opinion of Linnaeus on the In-
crease of the Habitable Earth. Dantzic, 1767-

The First Edition — Oratio Regia, coram Rege
Reginaque habita. 1 759, in folio. Sivedish.

The Second Edition — Translated into Latin in
the Amcenitat Acad. Edit. Schreber, vol. x. Er-
lang, 1790.

The First Edition — Deliciae Naturae, oratio ha-
bita, 1772.

The Second Edition — Translated into Swedish by
Linnaeus himself, at the request of the students from
the different Swedish provinces, under the title of
“ Caroli Yon Linne Delicia; Naturae; Tal, hallit
Upsala Domkyrka, ar 1772, den 14 Dec. vid Rec-
toratets nedlaggande.” Stock. 1773, two sheets
octavo.

The Third Edition — In Latin, in the Amoenitat
Acad. Schreber. vol. x. 1790.

NARRATIVES

OP

THE TRAVELS OF LINNAEUS.

Oelandska och Gothldnska Bern. Stockh. och
Upsal, 1745, three hundred and forty-four pages,
in octavo, with two plates. Swedish.

Ckarles Von Linnes Travels, through Oeland
and Gothland, translated into German by J. C. S.
Schreber. Halle, sold by J. J. Curt, 1763; four
hundred and thirty-two pages, large octavo, with
five plates. German.

Wastgotha Resa ; af Ricksens Standers befalning
forattad. Stockholm, 1747 ; two hundred and
twenty-four pages in octavo, with five plates. —
Swedish.

Charles Von Linnes Travels in IVest Gothland,
translated by J. C. D. Schreber. Halle, 1765,
large octavo. German.

Skanska Resa, Forrdttad a 1749. Stockholm, by
Salvius, 1749 ; four hundred and thirty-four pages
in octavo, with six plates.

NARRATIVES OP LINN/EUs’s TRAVELS. xxxi

Charles Linnceus’s Travels in the Kingdom of
Sweden , undertaken by command of the Swedish
Government, for the benefit of Natural History,
(Economy and Medicine. Translated from the
Swedish by C. E. Klein. Stockholm and Leipsic,
vol. i. with three plates. German.

No second volume, of the above work has ever
appeared.

MEMOIR OE LINNiEUS.

In following out our intention mentioned in the Pro-
spectus to the Naturalist’s Library, of occasionally
introducing portraits of illustrious naturalists, with
sketches of their lives and writings, as far as the
limits of the work would allow us, we now give the
life of one who first practically pointed out the real
utility of some system by which the great kingdoms
of nature could be properly studied and understood,
and their advantages to man most easily procured and
adopted. The name of Linnaius is known to the whole
civilized world ; and, whether we consider the rank of
his parents, the scanty means possessed by them to
defray the expenses of his education, and what was
necessary in the early part of his career to pursue his
own favourite studies ; or the limited state of the con-
tinental museums at that period, we shall think that
the merit which his contemporaries awarded to him
was very justly earned.

The principal facts introduced into the following
sketch, are taken from the biography by Dr. Pulteney,
and the diary of Linneeus, 'written in Swedish by liim-

VOL. VI.

B

26

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUSo

self, or under his superintendence, and published as an
appendix to the work above mentioned.

The diary is a curious and interesting document,
and owes its preservation to Dr Maton ,• it was con-
veyed in the year 1779, with a variety of manuscripts,
to be printed in England, by M. Fredenheim, son of
Dr Meimandcr, Archbishop of Upsala, to Robert Gor-
don, Esq. merchant at Cadiz. In consequence of Mr
Gordon’s death, the publication of them was not
accomplished, and they were disposed of to Dr Maton,
who had the diary translated and printed in his edition
of Dr Fulteney’s Biography of Linnseus. The manu-
script was written in a folio book containing about
eighty pages, entitled “ Vita Caroli Linnaei.” The
greater part of it is in the handwriting of his various
pupils, of whom that of Dr Lindwall is most conspi-
cuous, and it often runs from the first to third person,
as if the different writers had not attended to what had
been set down by their predecessor.

From this diary we learn that Nils Linnteus, the
father of the naturalist, born in 1674, was the son of
a peasant named Ingemar Bengtsson, in Smaland, and
married Ingrid Ingemarsdotter, sister of Sven Tilian-
der,* pastor of Pietteryd. The latter took Nils Lin-
nseus into his house, educated him along with his own

* Sven Tiliander, and the ancestors of the naturalist, took their
surnames of Lindelius, Tiliander, and Linnaeus, from a large linden
or lime-tree, standing on the farm where he was born. This ori-
gin of surnames, taken from natural objects, is not uncommon in
bweden.

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS.

27

thildren, and having a good garden, he gave him also
a taste for horticulture. After quitting school, he was
sent to the university of Lund, where he had to con-
tend with poverty, but nevertheless applied himself
diligently to his studies. Retiring to his native place,
he was admitted into holy orders by Bishop Cavallius,
and first became curate, and afterwards comminster*
of Stenbrohult. He soon after married the parson’s
eldest daughter, Christina Brodersonia, and succeeded
to the charge of his father-in-law, which he enjoyed
nearly forty years, discharging his duties with piety
and moderation, and employing the greater part of his
leisure in the cultivation of his garden.

Carl, the eldest son of Nils Linmeus, was bom 24th
May 1707, at Rashult, in the province of Smaland,
while his father wa9 still comminster. With an inheri-
tance of his father’s love for plants and their cultivation,
he is thus recorded by one of his pupils : “ From the
very time that he first left his cradle, he almost lived
in his father’s garden, which was planted with some of
the rarer shrubs and flowers ; and thus were kindled,
before he was well out of his mother’s arms, those
sparks which shone so vividly all his lifetime, and lat-
terly burst into such a flame.”

The elder Linnseus wished and intended that his
first-bom should succeed him in the office of pastor,

* Comminster, in the Swedish church establishment, is a cler-
gyman somewhat similarly circumstanced to one who in Scotland
serves a chapel of ease.

28

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS

and he endeavoured to advance the clerical education
of his son as far as his means would permit. At
the age of seven, Linnaeus was placed under the pri-
vate charge of John Tiliander, and two years after-
wards, was entered at the school of Wexio ; but in
both these places, the discipline is said to have been
severe, and not well fitted for the advancement of a
young man of his inild temper, and he was soon after
placed under another private tutor, who possessed a
more conciliating disposition. His distaste for ordinary
studies could not be so easily overcome, and it was not
till three years after that he received promotion to a
higher form in the school, called the circle. In this
rank he was allowed more leisure, which was inva-
riably devoted to his favourite pursuits, and chiefly his
earliest, that of plants.

According to the system of education at this time
employed in Sweden, it was necessary that young
men should pass from the schools, or from private
teachers, to what was called the Gymnasium, where
the higher branches of literature were taught ; and at
the age of sixteen, Linmeus was placed at this semi-
nary. Here he still continued his dislike for those
studies particularly necessary for a divine, and began
to show a more decided taste for botany, by forming a
small library of such books upon this science as he
could procure, and from his studious perusal of them, he
acquired the college name of the “ Little Botanist.”

Nearly two years after, the elder Linnaeus came to
Wexio to ascertain the progress of his son’s studies.

MEMOIK OF LINN.® US.

29

and the disappointment of the sanguine hopes of a pa-
rent may be conceived, when the recommendations of
his preceptors extended only to his ability for some
manual employment, and that farther expense in
forcing a learned education would be comparatively
thrown away. The old clergyman, having for some
time laboured under a complaint which might have
now increased from his anxiety, was obliged to con-
sult Dr Rothman, a provincial physician ; and grieving
at the seemingly wayward and careless disposition of
his son, he opened his mind to the doctor, who kindly
prescribed for both his mental and bodily sufferings.
He remarked, that, although the boy might be unfit
to follow that profession in which his father would have
wished to have seen him his successor, there was the
greater hope that some other study would be more ar-
dently pursued, that he might yet arrive at eminence
in medicine, as being more intimately connected with
the branch of his own choosing ; and he offered to give
young Linne board and instruction during the year
which it was still necessary he should make up at the
Gymnasium.

The offer of Dr Rothman was gratefully accepted,
and that gentleman faithfully redeemed his promises.
He gave his now willing pupil instructions in physio-
logy and botany, pointing out the advantages of study-
ing the latter science according to the system of Tour
nefort. In both Linnams made considerable proficiency,
had already commenced to arrange every plant in its

so

MEMOIR OF LINNiEUS.

proper place, and even to doubt the situation of many
whose characters had not been properly ascertained.

Next year it was thought necessary that Linnaeus
should complete his education at some university, and
upon applying at the Gymnasium, he received the
following metaphorical testimonial, - which will show
the little esteem in which his qualifications as a scholar
were held, and is a curious example of the manner in
which the professors worded their certificates. “ Youth
at school might be compared to shrubs in a garden,
which will sometimes, though rarely, elude all the care
of the gardener, but, if transplanted into a different
soil, may become fruitful trees. With this view, there-
fore, and no other, the bearer was sent to the univer-
sity, where it was possible that he might meet with a
climate propitious to his progress."

With this certificate he proceeded to the university
of Lund, and only procured admittance by the interest
of his old preceptor Hok, who withheld the testimonial,
and introduced him as his private pupil.

At Lund Linmeus lodged in the house of Dr Kilian
Stoboeus, professor of medicine, and physician to the
king, a man of mild disposition, and excellent temper.
Stolxeus admired the indust ry of his lodger, and his ac-
quirements in natural science ; allowed him free access
to his excellent library, his collectionsof shells, minerals,
plants, and birds, and first pointed out to our young
botanist the manner of making a Hortus Siccus, who,
enthusiastic in all his undertakings, immediately com-
menced collecting, drying, and gluing upon paper.

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

31

the plants which grew in the vicinity. It was during
one of these excursions with a brother botanist that he
nearly lost his life from a bite of the Furia infernalis ;
the wounded part swelled and inflamed, and a fever
ensued, from which he suffered long and severely.

The next summer’s vacation was spent with his
parents at Smaland ; here he again met with Dr Roth-
man, who advised him to remove to Upsala, where he
would derive greater advantages from the celebrated
Professors Rudbeck and Roberg, than in the more
limited university of Lund, and would also have access
to a rich public library, and extensive botanic garden.
Linnceus followed the advice of his former patron ; but
his parents were only able to allow him about eight
pounds sterling, to defray all his expenses ; and aftei
a short time he found himself almost without the
means of gaining a livelihood, uncertain where to ob-
tain a meal, and obliged to patch his shoes with folded
paper, instead of sending them to a shoemaker. He
regretted his departure from a kind and hospitable roof,
but did not possess the means of returning ; and Dr
Stobseus had taken it amiss, that he should have
changed his residence without consulting him.

He was, however, soon relieved from this uncom-
fortable state by the kindness of new friends. The
assiduity with which he studied the plants in the
botanical garden, attracted the attention of Professor
Rudbeck and Dr Celsius ; and the latter requiring an
assistant, thought Linneeus was qualified for the situa-
tion, and he opened his house and table to our natiu

.'52

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

ralist, who amply compensated this indulgence by his
strict attention. It was here that he composed his
SpoUa Botanica, a work never published, and con-
tracted a friendship with Artedi, afterwards celebrated
for his Ichthyology. These two young men now de-
voted their whole leisure to natural history ; Linnseus
reserving for his share, birds, insects, and plants, while
his companion took fishes, reptiles, &c.

About this period, Le Vaillant published his essay,
“ Sur la Structure des Fleurs the perusal of which
raised in the mind of Linnseus the ideas of the import-
ance of the stamina and pistils, and was the dawning
of that system, hitherto uncontroverted, and on which
his fame will continue based. The first sketch of this
he drew in the form of a dissertation, “ De nuptiis
Arborum" and presented it to Dr Celsius, who again
showed it to Professor Rudbeck. The latter was so
pleased with the tract and its author, that he appointed
him tutor to his children, and soon after having ob-
tained permission, on account of his advanced age, to
have an assistant in his duties, Linn»us was thought
capable of teaching the science of botany, and was
placed nearly at the head of an establishment, in which
a year before he had applied for the situation of
gardener.

He now lectured publicly, suggested alterations in
the garden, endeavoured to introduce some arrange-
ment, and began the valuable practice of giving bota-
nical excursions to his students, noticing the plants
which occurred in the vicinity of Upsala. He also

MEMOIR OF LINNiEUS.

33

commenced the foundation of several of his works, the
Bibliotheca Botanica, Classes et Genera Plantarum.

Thirty-six years before this time. Professor Rudbeck
had been employed, by the command of Charles XI.,
to make the tour of Lapland, but the whole fruits of
that expedition had been destroyed in the dreadful fire
at Upsala in 1702. The Royal Academy again medi-
tated the design of fitting out a second expedition, and
the friends of Linmeus had sufficient interest to procure
his appointment to the laborious undertaking of ex-
ploring Lapland. They could not have entrusted it to
any one better qualified ; and although agriculture and
botany were the branches to which he was required
principally to direct his attention, he omitted nothing
which could improve his knowledge of the country, its
productions, and inhabitants.

On account of the season, the journey could not be
commenced before the spring, and Linmeus did not set
out till the 13th May 1732. He commenced the
journey in high spirits, and in love with nature ; tra-
velled on horseback, and carried his whole baggage on
his back. It may be worth while to describe his dress
and implements in his own words, from the narrative
laid before the Academy of Sciences. “ My clothes
consisted of a light coat of West-Gothland linsey-
woolsey cloth, without folds, lined with red shalloon,
having small cuffs and collar of shag ; leather breeches,
a round wig, a green leather cap, and a pair of half
boots. I carried a small leathern bag half an ell in
length, but somewhat less in breadth, furnished on one

34

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

side with hooks and eyes, so that it could be opened
and shut at pleasure. This hag contained one shirt,
two pair of false sleeves, two half shuts, an inkstand,
pencase, microscope, and spying-glass ; a gauze cap
to protect me occasionally from the gnats, a comb ; my
journal, and a parcel of paper stitched together for draw-
ing plants, both in folio ; my manuscript ornithology.
Flora Uplandica, and Characteres Generici. I wore
a hanger at my side, and carried a small fowlingpiece,
as well as an octangular stick, graduated for the pur-
pose of measuring. My pocketbook contained a pass-
port from the governor of Upsala, and a recommendation
from the Academy." During the rest of this excursion,
he made use of the mode of travelling which was best
suited to the roads and passes, and performed the
greater part of it on foot. Many hardships were neces-
sarily undergone from the climate and nature of the
country. His life was often periled in crossing rapid
rivers, upon the rude boats or rafts constructed by the
inhabitants, and endangered in a dreary waste of
almost boundless snow, where the tracts of the rein-
deer, and the degree of heat retained by their dung,
were the only guides to the huts of their masters ; and
he was even once fired on by a native on the coast of
Finmarck. Notwithstanding these difficulties, he has
eulogized the country in the Flora Lapponica, as all
that could be desired, happy and smiling, free from
many diseases and the scourge of war, and possessing
plentiful resources in itself; while the inhabitants are
said to be innocent and primitive, displaying the great-

MEMOIB OF LINNJEUS.

35

est hospitality and kindness to a stranger. In the
journey, he travelled over the greater part of Lapland,
skirting the boundaries of Norway, and returned to Up.
sala by the Gulf of Bothnia, having passed over an
extent of above 4000 miles. He considered his labour
amply remunerated by the information he had gained,
and the discovery of new plants upon the higher
mountains, with the payment of his expenses, amount-
ing to about L.10.

Upon his return, he arranged all the plants accord-
ing to his own yet embryo system, and delivered
publicly an account of his journey, with a detailed
description of the natural productions. This was the
foundation of a work which he composed under the title
of Lachesis Lapponica, and which remained unknown
until after the purchase of his collections, by Sir J. E.
Smith. By the exertions of that gentleman, it was
translated, and published in two 8vo volumes ; it is a
work well worthy of perusal, and shows the industry
and ardour which were exerted in the undertaking.

Previous to commencing his Lapland journey he had
relinquished his botanical lectures, and on his return
wished to give a course upon mineralogy, to the study
of which he had lately applied himself. His financial
concerns were also far from prosperous. The course
was commenced, and many pupils obtained, but by
the jealousy of other lecturers at his rising fame, it
was put a stop to, upon the grounds that it required
the qualification of Doctor of Medicine to lecture
publicly.

sc

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

He set out, therefore, to the great Swedish mining
districts, to improve his knowledge in mineralogy, and
the art of assaying ; and at Fahlun was introduced to
the Baron Reuterholm, Governor of Delame, by whom
he was employed to investigate the productions of the
province. For this purpose he w'as accompanied by
seven young men, whom he superintended ; to each a
distinct department was assigned, and a report was
given in at the end of every day’s journey, according
to written rules which had been prepared before start-
ing. The mountains of Dalecarlia were twice explored,
and a part of Norway, and the materials collected
formed the Iter Dalecarlium, a work which never
seems to have been printed under the superintendence
of its authors.

On his return, he was introduced to Dr Moreus, an
eminent physician, and being often at his house, be-
came deeply enamoured with his eldest daughter. Her
father thought well of Linnseus, but not of his pro-
spects in life : he wavered in giving his consent to the
union — “voluit et noluit,” expressively writes Linnaeus
to a friend — and ultimately decided that a probation of
three years should be undergone, when his decision
would be given. All the efforts of the naturalist
were now turned to that of bettering his condition in
life. Medicine was chosen as a profession, but for
this a degree must be acquired, and he resolved to
proceed to the university of Harderwick. He travel-
led by Hamburgh, through Holland, to the place of
his destination ; and at the former place, had nearly

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

got into disagreeable embarrassments, by pronouncing
the famous Seven-Headed Hydra to be a deception,
composed of weasels' jawbones, covered with serpents'
skins. He found it necessary to leave the place, for
in so great value was this serpent esteemed, that it
had been pledged in security for a loan of ten thousand
marks, a value which this discovery by no means
enhanced. Upon his arrival at Harderwick, he was
introduced to the professors, wrote and defended his
thesis, and finally received his degree of M.D., with
a diploma containing testimonials of his abilities, as
flattering as those given upon his leaving school had
been discouraging.

When this object was accomplished, it had been
arranged, that Linmeus should settle in Sweden as a
practical physician, under the patronage of Dr Moreus,
and he set out on his return, travelling through
Holland, that he might gain the acquaintance of the
celebrated men, and increase his information in the
profession he had now chosen. Various circumstances,
however, prevented his immediate return, and the
three probationary years had almost expired, before
he could revisit his country or claim his bride.

At the commencement of his journey homewards,
the first place where Linnaeus remained for any time
was Amsterdam. Here he gained the friendship of
the celebrated Boerhaave, and that of Dr Gronovius ;
the latter a person of still greater importance to his
after fame. Gronovius was so much pleased with
the sketch of the Systema Naturce, by our young

S8

MEMOIR OF LINN.EUS.

naturalist, that he requested to be allowed to defray
the expense of the publication; and the request being
granted, the work was immediately put to press in the
commodious form of tables, embraced in about twelve
folio pages, and in this way was the foundation laid
of that system upon which almost all those of the
present day are in many ways most intimately con-
nected, and by which the arrangements of the older
systematists were almost at once superseded.

By Dr Boerhaavc, Linnaeus was introduced to Mr
Clifford, at this time the most enterprising botanist
and horticulturist in Europe. With him Linnaeus
spent perhaps some of his happiest days. Devoted
with all the ardour of a young man to a favourite and
fascinating pursuit, he was at once placed in one of
the most favourable situations in the world for follow-
ing it out. “ He enjoyed,” says Dr Pulteney, plea-
sures and privileges scarcely at this time to be met
with elsewhere in the world ; access to a garden
excellently stored with the finest exotics, and to a
library furnished with almost every botanic author of
note ; permission to purchase whatever plants and
books he thought worthy of being added to the col-
lection ; and leisure to prepare his own works for
the press." * In addition to these advantages, it is
said by his biographer Stoevers, that Clifford allowed
bim a salary of one thousand florins yearly, but which
appears too munificent even for his liberal patron.

Biography of Linnaeus, p. 87.

MfiMOIB OF LINN.EUS.

39

So lavish, indeed, was Mr Clifford upon his favourite
pursuit, that he proposed to send Linnseus to England
to procure the botanical novelties, and to communicate
with the most celebrated botanists and horticulturists.
Linnseus could not resist the offer, and we find our
enthusiastic naturalist sailing for Great Britain, instead
of making his way to Sweden. On his arrival at
London, he waited upon Sir Hans Sloane, to whom
he had a letter from Boerhaave, which recommended
him in the strongest language. But neither he nor
Dillenius, whom he met at Oxford, showed such
attention as might have been expected from these
high testimonials. They looked upon him as a young
innovator, who wished to overturn the old systems,
only to exalt his own name upon a fleeting eminence.
Dillenius spoke of him as the “ young man who
confounds all botany,” — treating him with reserve
and haughtiness, until his discoveries were truly
made known to him.

He visited also Martyn, Ward, Miller, Dr Shaw
the celebrated traveller, Peter Collinson, &c. ; and on
his return to the continent, long continued a corre-
spondence with these naturalists in the terms of the
most sincere friendship ; exchanged plants and other
objects of natural history with them, and freely
canvassed the different opinions set forth by each ;
and although these were not always unanimously
decided, they appeared to have had no influence in
disturbing the alliance previously formed.*

* Sir J. E. Smith’s Letter*.

40

MEMOIR OF LINN.EUS.

He returned again to Holland, withstanding most
pressing invitations to remain longer in Great Britain,
deeply impressed with the importance of England as
a country to forward the interests of natural science.
London he calls “ punctum saliens in vitello orbis
and certainly, in this respect, its reputation has not
decreased ; it perhaps now possesses advantages supe-
rior to any city in the world for pursuing this study
in all its branches.

During this excursion, Linn reus had greatly enriched
the garden and herbarium* of his kind patron, with
novelties from the English nurseries, and particularly
with American plants, which Mr Clifford had long
desired to possess. He now completed the arrange-
ment of this fine collection, and undertook the super-
intendence of the Hortus Cliffortianus, a work bear-
ing ample testimony to the liberality of Mr Clifford,
and brought out in a style much superior in every
respect to the productions of that period. The, whole
was arranged, written, and 'orrected, in nine months ;
and during that period, Linnaeus even found time
or, as he termed it, recreation, to forward l>is Critica
Botanica, Genera Plantarum, &c. This constant
exertion and study appears, however, to h),ve affected
his health, and he became weak and reduced. Not-
withstanding these symptoms, he was ultimately
prevailed to remain for a few months Iwger in Hol-
land, and arranged the botanic gardertat Leyden for

* The Cliffortian Hortus Siccus is now Jn the Banksian
library, and was purchased by Sir Joseph Bank for L.25.

MEMOIR OF LINNiEUS.

41

Professor Von Royen; assisted Dr Gronovius with
the Flora Virginica, and superintended the printing
of the Ichtliyologia of his deceased friend Artedi.

By the interest of his former patron, Dr Boerhaave,
Linnaeus was offered several situations abroad, all of
which he was induced to refuse ; he did not, however,
on this account lose the doctor’s esteem. The regard
of this venerable man continued unimpaired, and
Linnaius was one of the few friends whom he would
allow to see him on his deathbed. Linneeus himself
relates the last interview. He had bid him a sorrow-
ful adieu, at the same time kissing his hand in token
of respect ; Boerhaave put Linneeus’s hand to his lips
in return, and addressed him in these impressive words,
“ I have lived my time, and my days are at an end,
I have done every thing that was in my power. May
God protect thee, with whom this duty remains!
What the world required of me, it has got ; but of
thee, it expects much more. Farewell, my dear
Linnaius ! ’’ On his return to his lodgings, Linnaius
found, as a last and parting present, an elegant copy
of his chemistry.

As Linnaius was about really to depart from Hoi.
land, where he had been so often detained, almost
contrary to his intentions, he was seized with a violent
ague, followed by cholera, and was saved from death
with great exertions and difficulty. His final reno-
vation may be said to be due to Mr Clifford, who, not
forgetful of his strict friendship, removed his patient

VOL VI.

C

42

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

again to Hartechamp, where he slowly recovered
and, though in a still weak state, set out for Sweden,
taking his route by Paris, which he had long been
anxious to behold. Introduced to the Jussieus, he
received every attention, and was shown all that the
stoves, and conservatories, and museums possessed,
and made acquainted with the men of science. The
Royal Academy of Sciences paid him a very high
compliment. Having received permission to attend
one of its sittings as a visiter, he was desired to wait
a little while in the anteroom ; and it was at length
announced that the Academy had elected him a cor-
responding member.* He was importuned to remain
in France, and indeed his merit everywhere produced
the same consequences ; but he expressed his firm
determination to return to his own country.

From Paris, Linnaius went to Rouen, where he
embarked for Sweden, after an absence of nearly three
years ; during this period, he had vastly increased his
information, particularly upon botany, and had taken
advantage of the Dutch presses, to publish many of
his works, which he had either previously written or
' brought with him in an imperfect state, while the
liberality of his patrons, and some learned societies,
defrayed the expense, and even assisted to illustrate
some of them with plates.

Upon his arrival in Sweden, Linnaeus immediately
visited his aged father, and thence proceeded to Stock-

* Thus related by Dr Pultcney.

MEMOIR OF LINNiEUS.

45

holm, where he commenced practising as a physician,
but met with much opposition, on account of his
botanical studies. His perseverance, however, suc-
ceeded, and he obtained extensive practice. Writing
to a friend, he says, “ I am undeservedly got into so
much practice, that from seven o’clock in the morning
till eight in the evening, I have not even time to take
a short dinner.” He became acquainted with Captain
Triewald, who was endeavouring to establish an
Academy of Sciences ; and in conjunction with this
gentleman and the Baron Hbpken, a society of some
note was instituted, the presidency of which devolved
upon himself. This was the origin of the present
Academy of Stockholm. By the interest of one of its
members, he was soon afterwards appointed physician
to the navy ; and with a fixed salary, he was chosen
to give public lectures upon botany and mineralogy.

By these lucrative appointments, and the money he
had saved during his residence in Holland, he was
now in a situation of comparative independence, and
was enabled formally to apply to Dr Moreus for the
hand of his daughter ; and no plea for rejection now
existing, Linnaeus was united to Sarah Elizabeth
Morea, on the 26th of June 1/39.

Our illustrious naturalist might now be said to have
reached the height of his earthly happiness ; indepen-
dent in his circumstances — at peace, and beloved by
his family, and looked up to and honoured by the
heads of sciences in Europe. “ He was not, how-
ever,” says one of his biographers, “ destined to

44

MEMOIR OF LINN.SUS.

continue in the career of reputation and prosperity,
without exciting envy, jealousy, and opposition, from
various quarters, and the attacks of his adversaries
did not fail to wound his ambition. Yet, remember-
ing the advice of his venerable friend Boerhaave,
and being of too high a cast of mind to entertain
asperity, or indulge in splenetic invectives, he wisely
resolved to abstain from controversy. He took an-
other method to counteract the injurious influence of
hi3 opponents, and it would be well if all naturalists
would act in the same dignified way when repelling
ill-natured attacks. He thought that something was
due to his countrymen, to show that all men of learn-
ing did not agree with his libellers, and he published
a little work giving a brief sketch of his life, a list of
his works, and the various testimonials given to his
talents by the most eminent men of the day. The
title was worthy of its author — Orbis Eruditi Judi-
cium de Caroli Linncei, M.D., Scripiis.” He made
no comments, but allowed opinions to be formed from
authority that could not be contradicted, and relied
upon the judgment which would be given upon the
words of a Boerhaave, a Dillenius, a Sauvauges, a
Jussieu, and a Haller.

He was not, however, above being corrected, when
done with a proper spirit ; and was perfectly aware
that in the vast range he had undertaken, perfection
could not at once be obtained, and that some faults
were almost inevitable. In a letter to Haller, he says,

“ who could perambulate, without erring, the wide-

MEMOIR OP LINNjKUS.

45

spread domains of nature ? Who could observe every
thing with sufficient accuracy? Correct me in a
friendly manner, and you shall have my best thanks.
I have done all I could do. A great tree cannot bear
a lofty top, when only it first begins to shoot off.”

We have now seen Linmeus independent in his
circumstances, and happy in his family, but there was
still another step at which his ambition grasped : an
ambition in this case laudable. It was the botanic
chair of Upsala. He was eager to teach his favourite
science in the halls where he had been himself taught,
and had often entered with a boyish awe. It was still
occupied by Rudbeck, now in the decline of life, and
nearly unfit for the exertion of instructing a class.
This celebrated man died in the ensuing year, and
Linnaeus offered himself as a candidate. Notwith-
standing his fame, he was disappointed in this object.
The University statutes opposed his success, and ac-
cording to the regulations it was given to Dr Rosen,
who had studied longer, and had greater claims upon
Upsala. The summit of his wishes was, however,
gained in the following year. He was appointed to
the chair of medicine, vacant in the same University,
and by a private arrangement with Dr Rosen effected
an exchange, receiving the superintendence of the bo-
tanic garden, and charge of the whole department of
Natural History.

Before his final removal to the professorship of
Upsala, the Diet of the kingdom had resolved that ex-
peditions should be undertaken into the least known

46

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS.

Swedish provinces, to inquire into their resources, and
discover what substances could be usefully employed
in theirdomesticmanufactures. Linnaeus was selected
to perform the first journey, and haling accepted the
appointment, he set out for the Islands of Oeland and
Gothland to endeavour to discover an earth fitted to
make porcelain ; this was the foundation of his Iter
Oelandicum. He was accompanied by six naturalists,
but was unsuccessful in the object of the excursion.
The tour was nevertheless of great utility ; he attend-
ed to mechanics, the arts, antiquities, manners of the
people, fisheries, and general natural history. He
discovered above one hundred plants which were not
previously known to be indigeneous, and first pointed
out to the natives of those shores the use of Arundo
armaria to arrest the sand, and bind the soil upon
the sea-beach.

At the age of thirty-four we find Linnaeus enjoying
the fruits of all his labours and perseverance, teaching
his favourite science as its head in Sweden. He en-
joyed himself to the utmost ; he calls the garden “ his
Elysium,” and the enthusiasm with which he set about
improving it knew no bounds. At his appointment
every thing was in a state of confusion ; the dreadful
fire which had converted the best part of Upsala to a
heap of ruins in 1702 , had extended its ravages also
here, and at this period the garden did not contain
more than fifty plants that were exotic. Linnaeus
applied to the Chancellor of the University, Count
Charles Gyllenborg, who, fortunately, was a man of

MEMOIR OF LINNiEUS.

47

considerable scientific acquirements, and a lover of
botany, and he also thought that the fame of her Uni-
versity was of the utmost consequence to Upsala.
Through the means of this gentleman, permission was
obtained that the whole should be laid out anew.
Plans were obtained from the King’s architect, and
stoves, a greenhouse, and a mansion for the professor,
were soon finished. A gardener, whom Linnseus had
formerly known with Mr Clifford, was also engaged,
and by the assistance of the friends whom he had ac-
quired during his short visits to London and Paris, the
collection of plants was soon increased to above eleven
nundred species, independent of those indigenous to
Sweden. In a few years the garden at Upsala ranked
equal, if not superior, to similar establishments in
Europe.

Linnaeus now continued an uninterrupted career, fol-
lowing out his duties as professor, and improving the
garden. The number of students became increased
nearly one thousand,* and the fame of the University
extended over Europe, and even to America. He
always made summer excursions at the head of his
pupils, who frequently attended him to the amount of
two hundred. They went in parties to explore dif-
ferent districts of the country ; whenever some rare or
remarkable plant, or some other natural curiosity, was
discovered, a signal was given by a horn or trumpet,

* The usual number of students was 500 ; and in 1759, while
Linnaeus was rector, they amounted to 1500.

48

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

upon which the whole corps joined their chief to hear
his demonstration and remarks. Linnaus was much
impressed with the necessity of this mode of convey-
ing instruction, and also of the utility of parties con-
ducted in a similar way, to gain an intimate knowledge
of the productions of any country. Their advantages
have also been more lately shown, by the example
being followed by the Professors of our Scotch Uni-
versities, and the valuable additions which of late years
have been made to a Flora comparatively well ex-
plored. We trust that in another year the researches
will have more varied objects.

There is another circumstance, in the manner of
teaching employed by Linmeus, too remarkable to be
passed over, that of his rendering his pupils subservi-
ent to the distribution of his own system, and of study-
ing natural history for the advancement of the science,
and not merely as a branch of polite education. By
his ready flow of language, and the happy manner in
which he communicated his ideas, he rendered the
students converts from any system they might have
previously adopted, and made them as enthusiastic as
himself ; and when in distant lands, it was their pride
to teach that system, and to defend it from the attacks
of persons who thought it an impertinent innovation.
In like manner did he imbue the minds of his pupils
with a love for foreign travel and research in unknown
countries, pointing out the delight of discovery in the
most fascinating terms ; and it was equally their pride
to make known their discoveries, and transmit their

MEMOIR OF L1NN.EUS.

49

collections to a teacher whom they both loved and re-
spected. In this he was also assisted by the government,
who were most liberal in defraying the expense, and
even sending out young men free to distant countries,
which immensely increased the national collections.
In a few years his pupils of the most persevering minds
were distributed over the whole world, and their va-
rious histories would form of itself a volume of the most
interesting kind. Of this enthusiasm for science Lin-
naeus thus speaks, “ If I look back upon the fate of
naturalists, must I call madness or reason, that desire
which allures us to seek and to examine plants ? The
irresistible attractions of nature can alone induce us to
face so many dangers and troubles. No science has had
so many martyrs as natural history." Many ofhispupils
were unfortunate, and fell victims to the elements, or
to the diseases of a pestilential climate ; but many
returned, amply compensating themselves for the
hardships they had undergone, while their names are
handed down to science in tributes which were be-
stowed by their venerable preceptor.*

The fame and reputation of Linnaeus had now
gained him both riches and honours. He was admit-
ted a member into most of the scientific societies of
Europe. The Imperial Academy distinguished him
by the name of Dioscorides Secundus. The Royal

* Osbeckia, Kalmia, Solandra, Alstroemeria, Loefiingia, &c.,
will recall the names of some of liis pupils.

so

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

Academy of Sciences of Upsala, the Academy of
Sciences at Montpelier, the Royal Academies of Berlin
and Paris, and Royal Society of London, all ranked
him among their members. In 1761, he attained an
additional accession of honours, being presented by
his Sovereign with letters of nobility. His name
was changed to Yon Linne, and arms w T ere assumed
corresponding with his new rank. But, perhaps,
the most flattering testimony of the extent and
magnitude of his fame, was that which he received
from the King of Spain, who invited him to settle
at Madrid, with the offer of an annual pension for life
of 2000 pistoles, letters of nobility, and the free exer-
cise of his own religion. He returned his most grate-
ful acknowledgments for the intended honour ; and
his answer, that “ if he had any merits, they were
due to his own country,” shows the sense of obligation
which he felt to the countrymen who had raised him
to such an eminence.

The salaries which Linnaeus received from his
various public appointments, had placed him in afflu-
ent circumstances, and allowed him to gratify a wish
which he had long indulged, the possession of a villa,
where he could spend a part of his time, away from
the hurry and bustle of a public life, and enjoy the
quiet delights of a country retirement. He accord-
ingly purchased the villa of Harmanby, about a league
from Upsala, and during the last fifteen years of his
life, mostly chose it for his summer residence. Here

MEMOIR OF L1NNJEUS.

51

he kept, comparatively speaking, a little university.
His pupils followed him thither, and those who were
foreigners used to rent lodgings in the villages of
Honby and Edeby, which were both contiguous to his
villa. At the distance of about a quarter of a league
from his rural abode, he erected a little building upon
an eminence which commanded a view of the surround-
ing country. In this he kept his collections of natural
history, and delivered summer lectures in a familiar
manner to his pupils and foreigners who came to
reside at the above-mentioned villages. During these,
the grave and solemn habit of a professor was laid
aside, and that of a friendly companion, clothed in a
dressing-gown, slippers, and a red fur cap, was as-
sumed.

To the titles with which King Frederick Adolphus
honoured our great naturalist, he added his private
friendship, and Linnreus was often admitted to his
company. Natural history was a favourite pursuit
of this prince, and a collection built in the Castle of
Ulrichsdale, about half a league from Stockholm,
rapidly increased under the superintendence and
arrangement of Linnaeus, and furnished the materials
for one of his most splendidly illustrated works
entitled, “ Museum Regis Adolphi Frederici.” The
Queen followed the tastes of her husband, and pos-
sessed a private collection also arranged by Linnaeus.
The leisure time in the summer vacations was often
spent in these occupations, and the palaces of Ulrichs-

52

MEMOIR OF LINN.EUS.

dale and Drottingholm, at easy distance from his own
villa, were often the scene of his studies, and served
as another recreation from the more severe duties of
his professorship.

It was at this period of his life that he was seized
with severe attacks of gout, which prevented his re-
pose for many nights at a time, and which he relieved
by eating wfild strawberries ; these were almost the
first symptoms of an approaching decay in his vigor-
ous constitution. The excitement of seeing a collec-
tion of novelties had a singular effect, and an anecdote
is preserved, of his being cured in this way of a severe
fit, by the return of a pupil from North America.
He was afflicted with a violent fit of the gout, and
was obliged to keep his bed almost totally deprived
of the use of his limbs. When he heard of the return
of Kalm, with a number of new plants and other
curiosities, the desire of seeing these treasures, and
the delight which he felt -when he saw them, was so
great as actually to make the gout disappear.

The family of Linmeus, consisting of only one son
and four daughters, was now grown up. The son,
his first-born, of whom so much was expected, in-
herited a portion of his father’s abilities, but was not
spared to bring them to that maturity, which a con-
stant study for many years might have enabled him
to reach. At the early age of ten, he is said to have
been acquainted with most of the plants in the botanic
garden, and the highest wishes of his father were, to

MEMOIR OF IINN^US.

53

render him fit for, and to see him his successor in, the
botanical chair. Let us see how these wishes were
achieved.*

We have now brought down the principal incidents
in the life of this great naturalist, to the time, when,
though only fifty-six years of age, he felt the vigour
of his constitution impaired, and his versatile mind
commencing to wane. He was conscious that he had
fulfilled his adopted motto, “ Famam extendere factis,”
and was willing to relinquish his office before its duties
became too severe for his declining health ; and after
academical services for a period of thirty years, Lin-
neeus respectfully entreated his majesty, Gustavus,
who had succeeded to the throne upon the demise of
his parent, to accept his resignation. His request
was declined with the most flattering objections, and

* Young Linmeus was born on the 20th January 1741, at
Fahlun, the capital of Dalecarlia. At an early age he was placed
under private tutors, and it was intended that he should study the
science in which his father had gained so much roputation and
honour. When only eighteen years of age, he was appointed
demonstrator in the botanic garden at Upsala ; three years after
ho becamo an author, and published descriptions of the rarer plants
in the garden, and in the year following, was made assistant and
successor to his father in the professorship. After his appoint-
ment, ho travelled through France, England, Holland, and Ger-
many, and his father’s name everywhere procured him introductions.
Upon his return to Upsala, he was taken ill of a bilious fever,
which was succeeded by an apoplectic stroke, and terminated his
life in the forty-second year of his age. With his death termina-
ted also the male branch of the family of Linneeus.

54

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

the king refused to deprive Hpsala of her chief splen-
dour : hut he increased the salary, and allowed the
young Linmeus to be placed as assistant to the pro-
fessorship, under the superintendence of his father.
Thus did Linmeus see the fulfilment of his brightest
hopes, in the appointment of his son, at the early age
of twenty-two, to a chair, which would have been
looked upon through Europe, as the greatest and most
difficult to be represented.

Notwithstanding the relief which Linnaeus expe-
rienced by the assistance of his son, he continued his
public activity till two years before his death ; a mind
so constituted, and a manner of life so habituated to
activity, could not at once relapse into idleness. In
1771, he is described by a traveller, as leading an
active and bustling life, never seen at leisure, even his
walks had for their objects discoveries in natural
history ; and all his moments not embittered by a
painful disease, were devoted to his darling science.
In the following year he gave a proof of the remaining
vigour of his constitution, by delivering a customary
oration upon his resignation of office of rector in tho
assembly, which he had already held three times.
He chose as a subject tho “ Delicise Naturce,” and
the whole academical forum found it so beautiful, that
the students of the Swedish provinces sent deputies to
him the next day, to entreat its translation into the
language of that country.

In 1773, he was chosen member of a committee to
superintend a better translation of the Bible into

MEMOIR OP MNNjEUS.

55

Swedish, and the task of ascertaining and describing
the plants and vegetable productions mentioned in the
Holy Scriptures, was intrusted to his care. In the
same year, we find him writing to Pennant in London,
with all the enthusiasm of a young man entering upon
a favourite study. “ Long ago have I been informed,
that my countryman. Dr Troil, has brought with him
your presents, which I so eagerly expected. He arrived
' here the day before yesterday, and delivered your
Synopsis Quadrupedum and your Indian Zoology. I
return you my warmest thanks for each. I will
peruse and reperuse your Synopsis a thousand times.
I find much beauty and utility in it, and will study
it thoroughly. After having read the work, I will ask
you many questions, and never prove ungrateful to
you ; I will enter into no dispute about methods. I
wish to God I could see your other works, especially
that on birds ; how much knowledge, which I am
deprived of, might I collect from them ! Farewell —
you’ll hear more from me next time.”

In the year following, he composed his final essay.
The king had received from Surinam a collection of
curious plants preserved in spirits, with the fruit and
flowers entire, and with much liberality presented them
to Linnieus. Linmeus composed a catalogue- of the
whole, making out thirteen new genera, and about
forty undescribed species. One of these he dedicated
to his sovereign, under the title of Gustavia Augusta,
as the truest way by which he could express his
gratitude for the great distinctions conferred upon

56

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

himself. And it was in this same year that he
received the first fatal warning that the termina-
tion of his earthly career was near at hand. While
he gave a summer lecture in the botanical garden, he
had an apoplectic stroke, and fell into a swoon, from
which he did not for a long time recover. From this
period he declined gradually, and he felt his own
weakness. Pennant had written to him to fulfil his
promise of writing the natural history of Lapland, but
he answered, “ that it would now be too late for him
to begin.” *

“ Me quoque debilitat series immensa laborum,

Ante meum texnpus cogor ct esse Senex. ”

His activity and public duties continued unabated
at intervals till 1776, two years before his death,
when he suffered a second shock, which had an effect
upon his speech, though he still retained a part of his
wonted cheerfulness. He was carried to his museum,
where he viewed with delight the treasures he had
collected together from all parts of the world, and
showed additional vigour upon seeing any new or rare
production, which the attention of his friends still
furnished to him. Towards the end of this year he
suffered a third and fatal blow. His right side be-
came completely dead. It was necessary to lead,
support, dress, and feed him. His mental faculties

* Nunc uimis scro inceperim.

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

57

wasted with his body, and his earthly frame became
to him a burden. In this distressing state he con-
tinued for nearly twelve months, at times suffering
great agony from his previous disease; and as the
powers of his constitution became exhausted, he be-
came insensible to pain, and expired in a gentle slumber
on the afternoon of the 10th January 1778, aged
seventy years and seven months.

Thus terminated the active and ever-searching life
of this pious and illustrious man, depriving natural
history of her brightest ornament, and his country of
a fellow-citizen and professor, whose loss could not
be repaired throughout all Europe. Every human
honour was paid to his remains, and the sorrow of his
countrymen was without bounds. A general mourn-
ing was ordered at Upsala. To use the words of their
sovereign, they had “ lost, alas! a man, whose celebrity
was as great all over the world, as the honour was bright
which his country derived from him as a citizen. Long
will Upsala remember the celebrity which it acquired
by the name of Linnaeus ! ”

In foreign lands equal regard was paid to his memory.
He was eulogized in the Royal Academy by Condorcet
and Yicq d’Azyr, and his bust was erected under the
highest cedar in the Royal Gardens. Dr Hope, the
Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh,
had a monument to his name erected in the Botanic
Garden. Many societies have been formed under the
auspices of his name, of which the most important was

von. vi.

n

58

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

instituted in 1788, by the exertion of the late Sir
James (then Dr) Edward Smith. This possesses the
whole library, herbaria, and manuscripts, of the illus-
trious person whom it records.* They were pm-chased
by the members at the demise of their respected
founder and president, and they rightly judged that
the Linnsean Society of London was the only place
where these monuments of his labours and abilities
could be with propriety deposited.

The person of Linmeus is thus described by his
biographers. His stature was of middle size, but of
considerable muscularity, his head large, with a strong
gibbosity on the back part. This seems to have been
remarked by himself and all his biographers, and must
have been a very marked feature in the form of his
cranium. His features were agreeable, and his coun-
tenance animated ; his eyes remarkably bright, ardent,
and piercing, of a brown colour ; the hair brown, and
towards the decline of life it became hoary. The in-
spection of his portraits, which are mostly painted at
an advanced period of his life, give an idea of an open
disposition, benignity and good-humour, and of a mind
ardent and piercing. The best esteemed likeness at
an advanced period, is a picture painted by a Swedish
artist, belonging to the Royal Academy of Sciences
at Stockholm, of which there is a copy in the Linmean
Society of London ; but one of the most pleasing was

* Upon the death of tho younger Linnasus, the collections and
manuscripts of his father were offered for sale, and purchased by
tho late Sir J. E. Smith for L. 1 000.

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

59

painted by Hoffman, when Linnaeus was a young
man, superintending the garden of Mr Clifford. It
represents him in a Lapland dress, and was engraved
by a London artist in mezzotinto. It is almost the
only likeness taken at an early period of his life, and
it is therefore selected as our copy for embellishing the
commencement of this volume.

From the sketch we have now endeavoured to give
of the life of this naturalist, it will have been seen that
his mind was ardent and enthusiastic in the highest
degree, particularly in following out his beloved science ;
he never, however, in his enthusiasm, lost sight of the
First Great Cause, but looked truly up to Nature’s
God, as the giver of all his benefits and acquirements.
Over the door of his room was incribed, “ Innocue
vivito — Numen adest.” And when enumerating in
his diary his various successes in life, he commences,
“ The Lord himself hath led him with his own
Almighty hand ; ” and sums them up with “ The
Lord hath been with him whithersoever he hath
walked, and hath cut off liis enemies from before him,
and hath made him a name like the name of the great
men that are in the earth.” The most important of
his works commence and finish with some verse from
the Scriptures, implying the power or greatness of
God, or his own gratitude to Providence for the in-
numerable benefits conferred upon himself and the
inhabitants of the world; and his descriptions are
continually interspersed with expressions of admira-
tion, of gratitude, and love.

60

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

His memory was most comprehensive, and remained
almost unimpaired till his sixtieth year ; but the most
remarkable feature in his comprehensive mind, was the
power to seize upon the essential characters of what-
ever he was engaged with, to separate the useful from
the useless, and at once to characterise them with that
decision and clearness which so peculiarly mark his
writings and descriptions. A better example of this can-
not be referred to, and his style will be better understood
in the perusal, than his Imperium Naturce, or the pre-
face to the three kingdoms of his Sy sterna Naturce.

This love of order was equally conspicuous in his
domestic arrangements. In winter he slept from nine
to six, in summer Horn ten to three ; but he never
extended his application of mind beyond the moment
at which he felt fatigue, and whatever fact came to
his knowledge, he noted it immediately in its proper
place. He was frugal in his way of living, and in his
greatest prosperity never gave way to extravagance
or ostentation ; he was a strict economist, yet liberal
in conferring benefits. He often relieved his pupils
when in want, and was always ready to assist them
in their travels, either by money or advice. In his
capacity as teacher, he possessed the faculty of in-
teresting his hearers, and of making himself easily
understood, and his pupils looked upon him more in
the light of a counsellor or beloved adviser, than as a
■grave or austere professor.

MEMOIR OF LINKSBS.

61

The character of this great Naturalist is easily
defined from the nature of his habits and pursuits.
He was fond of renown, and loved applause ; but
what man was ever insensible to panegyric, or could
hear with indifference the voice of univers.nl admi-
ration at his own genius. Study was his ruling
passion ; and he had but one desire, — that of
enlightening mankind. He was one of those whose
penetrating mind soared above the attainments of
his contemporaries, and saw farther than the limited
horizon of the age in which he lived.

There are some men whose appearance is the
date of a new era, whose talents overcome the
poverty of their birth, and every impediment that
obstructs their path. If they seek glory in arms,
in letters, or in science, they find it ; because
Nature has endowed them with a sagacity of com-
prehension and a determination of will which car-
ries them through all obstacles, and crowns their
efforts with success. Such a man was Linnaeus :
he was bom a Naturalist, just as New'ton was
bom an astronomer, Milton a poet, or Napoleon
a soldier.

Although the soil of Sweden is not rich either in
plants or insects, and many of its feathered tribes
are but temporary visitants, leaving it at stated
periods in quest of milder climes, nevertheless it was
amidst this physical barrenness that the taste of
Linnaeus for his favourite pursuit broke out almost
from his earliest infancy, and found the means not

65

MEMOIR OP LINNjEUS.

only of its gratification, but of laying the basis of a
system which soon spread its dominion over the
whole world of science. Almost within the Arctic
Circle, this enthusiast of nature felt all those inspi-
rations which are generally supposed to be the
peculiar offspring of warmer regions.

It is perhaps worthy of incidental remark, that
the most part of naturalists have commenced their
career with the study of botany ; and this admits of
an obvious explanation. The animals look upon
man as their enemy, and fly his approach; the
mineral kingdom is concealed in the bowels of the
earth, and cannot be reached except by tedious and
painful exertions. On the other hand, plants and
vegetables seem to covet the admiration and court
the acquaintance of man : they unfold spontane-
ously their smiling beauties to his eye, and thus, as
it were, invite him to examine and explain their
structure. This branch of natural science is not
merely the most easy and attractive at the outset ;
it is the key of all the rest. Whoever becomes fa-
miliar with plants and herbs, soon desires to know
the names of the insects that feed or lodge among
their leaves ; he then wishes to extend his observa-
tion to the nature of the soil that nourishes them,
and thus, by an obvious transition, he passes from
botany to the study of zoology and mineralogy.

This was exactly the case with Limueus ; he was
a botanist from his cradle ; he lived from his child-
hood amidst shrubs and flowers ; and, in comme-

MEMOIR OF LINNjEES.

63

moration of his peculiar tastes even at that age, a
corner of his fathers garden hore the name of
Charles*. It was this love for his favourite occu-
pation, the resistless attraction of fields and mea-
dows, that must account for the slowness of his
progress at school, and also for the charge of inca-
pacity brought against him by one of his teachers,
Lanarius (whose name Cuvier has taken care to
preserve), who would have extinguished this me-
teor of natural science, by counselling his father to
bind him an apprentice to some obscure profession,
— a shoemaker, or, according to others, a tailor,
or a carpenter, — from a belief that Providence had
not endowed him with sufficient aptitude for a
liberal education.

The struggles and hardships he was doomed to
encounter in his youth, had no effect in damping
his ardour or slackening his application. It often
happens that poverty, instead of disheartening or
overwhelming genius, only developes and fortifies
it the more ; and when we read of the future Pliny
of the North receiving at college the alms of the
charitable, wearing the cast-off' clothes of his com-

* It is recorded of the mother of Linnseus, that when she
peroeived the bent of his mind so contrary to the studies for
the church, to which he was originally destined, she expressly
forbade her other son, Samuel, from ever entering his father’s
garden, being persuaded that he would there contract those
tastes and habits that had defeated her fond hopes of making
Charles a clergyman.

64

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

rades, or obliged to patch with hark or coarse paper
those shoes which he had solicited from some of his
companions, we are reminded of many similar exam-
ples in our own country : — of the orientalist, Mur-
ray, who learned his alphabet from letters rudely
drawn with a burnt heather twig on the back of a
wool card — of Leyden, who read the book he had
borrowed by the borrowed light of a blacksmith’s
forge ; and of Adams, who attended the College of
Edinburgh when he was often too poor to purchase
a dinner, and used to consume his penny roll during
a solitary walk round the Meadows, or, if the day
was wet, in climbing the high flights of common
stairs that led from the Parliament Square to the
Cowgate. Of these scholastic miseries Linmeus
had his share; but they abated nothing from the
ardour of his studies, and in the pages of Toume-
fort he found consolation for all the difficulties and
discouragements he experienced in the gymnasium
of Wexio.

His reputation was European, long before fortune
deigned to smile on his labours. Often he used to
apply to himself, as a motto, the words of the Latin
poet, Laudatur at alget , “ He is praised, and starves.”
But, in spite of his necessities, the consciousness
of his intellectual superiority inspired him with all
the pride of independence; while the charities con-
ferred upon him, instead of lessening his dignity,
reflected honour both on him who received and on
those who bestowed them It -was the wants of

MEMOIR OF LINNJEUS.

65

his academical life that made him kind towards his
own students, many of whom he aided both with
his counsels and his money.

His sense of gratitude was strong; and in his
generous heart every sentiment of benevolence found
a place. An injury he could forget, but never a
benefit. His friendship for Rosen, who accommo-
dated him with the botanical chair, was as sincere
as it was lasting. His early patron, Clifford, has
been immortalized by the grateful pen of his illus-
trious protege, who delighted to inscribe the name
of his Macaenas in several of those great works which
will remain a monument to both for many ages yet
to come. It was this feeling of respect that in-
duced him to decline the pressing offer of Van
Royen to take charge of the botanical gardens at
Leyden, where he might have enjoyed a secure and
comfortable livelihood. The terms proposed, of
classifying the plants according to the method of
Boerhaave, contrary to the arrangement adopted in
the Hortus Cliffortianug, was the cause of his de-
clining to accept this permanent situation ; and
thus, although dependent at the time on the bounty
of others, he hesitated not to sacrifice the tempting
prospect of a quiet and happy independence, to
what he believed due to the memory of his bene-
factor.

His writings and correspondence abound with
similar proofs of the warmth of his attachments.
He mentions, in the most affectionate terms, the

66

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS.

premature death of Hasselquist, who was cut off
at Smyrna in 1752, and of Loefling, who died in
America in 1756. His grief for Artcdi showed
how ardent had been the friendship of their youth :
this Naturalist had been his college companion;
they had studied together at Upsala, and from the
similarity of their pursuits, had been led to contract
for each other the tenderest personal esteem. After
the death of his friend, Linnaeus, to whom he had
bequeathed the charge of his manuscripts, pub-
lished his work on Ichthyology ; and in a preface,
which has been applauded as a model of beautiful
latinity, he deplored the fate of his class-fellow in
language that reminds us of the pathetic lamenta-
tions of David over liis beloved Jonathan.

In nothing was the benevolence and good nature
of this illustrious man more remarkably displayed,
than in his conduct towards those who vilified and
opposed him, as the author of a new system subver-
sive of all established arrangements. He met with
many detractors in France. His principal adversa-
ries were Adanson, Buffon, and Lamethrie; the
latter bitterly ridiculed him for placing man among
the mammiferous animals — in the same class with
the horse and the hog ! Buffon affected to deny
that he had either method or system. The learned
Haller was the most formidable among his German
antagonists. “ Linmeus (says he) sets himself up
as another Adam, to give names to the whole ani-
mal creation according to certain marks of his own,

MEMOIR OF LINN^US.

67

without the least regard to his predecessors. He
almost dares to place a man and a monkey in the
same category.” Zimmerman, too, complained that
the Swedish Naturalist, in a few years, had entirely
demolished botany, and raised his own fantastic
theories on the ruins of every other.

The only vengeance Linnaeus resorted to in reta-
liating upon his enemies, was either to treat their
attacks with silent indifference, or to reply in pithy
epigrams, which might expose the malice without
tarnishing the memory of his critics. Sometimes
he would affix then' names to prickly shrubs, or
stinging plants, or obscure flowers ; but rarely
deigned to make any public vindication of himself.
His usual remark was, “ I mean to employ the
years that Providence allots me in making useful
observations, and not in answering the cavils of my
opponents. The errors of Natural History cannot
be defended ; its truths cannot be concealed. It
remains for posterity to judge, and to that tribunal
I appeal.”

Some of his revilers lived to retract their calum-
nies, and withdraw their opposition to his system
The son of Haller addressed to him letters of apo-
logy, expressing regret at having written against
him. Siegesbeck, the most fiery of his antago-
nists, also testified his sincere repentance for having
assailed his reputation, and implored him to forget
the wrongs which he might have sustained at his
hands. He even .reckoned so far on the generosity

68

MEMOIR, OF LINNJ5US.

of Linnaeus, as to solicit from him the office of
conservator of the garden of plants at Upsala ; — a
favour which would have been granted had the
situation been in his power to bestow.

As botany was the earliest, so it continued to the
last to he the favourite study of Linnaeus. His
predilection for it is obvious to the most superficial
observer of his life and works. From it he drew
his greatest happiness during prosperity, and his
sweetest consolations in adversity. The sight of a
new plant threw him into an eestacy of delight. In
writing, after he had passed his sixtieth year, to a
friend in Paris, expressing his eager anxiety for a
specimen of the Loasa, he says, “ If you can give
me, or procure for me, a single seed, I would
esteem it a treasure.” This passion continued un-
abated to the close of his life; and some have
attributed the revival of his intellectual faculties,
to the desire he felt to describe the plants which had
been sent him by Dalberg from Surinam. It is at
least certain, that his latest labours had for their
object the publication of a memoir under the title
of Plantce Surinanienses. Well might he apply to
himself .Rousseau’s description of the charms of bo-
tany, — “ I owe my life and my purest pleasures to
botany : it is my solace in the midst of disap-
pointments, the soother of my cares, and the sun
that sheds a smiling colour on the intervals of mis-
fortune. Had I my own choice, I would spend my
days in this delightful study, and even pursue it

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS.

69

beyond the grave; for if there be flowers in the
Elysian Fields, I would weave garlands for those
good men who deserved them while on earth.”

With regard to the peculiar characteristic of the
Linnasan system, viz. the sexual distinction of
plants, Linnams himself confessed, both in con-
versation and in his writings, that the merit of that
discovery did not belong to him ; it was known be-
fore the time of Theophrastus. Nor did he even
claim the discovery of the sexual organs, which
has been generally ascribed to him. Nevertheless,
from his application of that knowledge to the de-
velopement of science, he may be justly considered
their discoverer. In his Species Plantarum , he states
that he had analyzed more than ten thousand spe-
cies of flowers ; and although he long swayed the
botanical sceptre of Europe, he never expected that
the natural system would gain a speedy conquest
over the prejudices of the learned. Its adoption
he considered as a thing which posterity might
witness, but scarcely to be hoped for in his own
times.

As a geologist, the opinions of Linnsus, how-
ever interesting about the middle of last century,
are not now worthy of special analysis. At the
period when he formed his theory, there existed
no satisfactory data as to the structure of the globe.
All the systems then in fashion had the common
defect of being based on a few isolated facts, too

70

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS.

superficially known to be trusted as a secure ground-
work for geological speculation.

Viewed as a Zoologist, Linnaeus was the first
that gave a picture of the animal kingdom, em-
bracing the whole range of beings that compose it.
His classifications are ingenious, and chiefly founded
on the organs of mastication, digestion, and lacta-
tion ; in the form of the wings in birds ; on the
absence or presence of elytra in insects. Nobody
before him had succeeded so well in drawing the
line of demarcation between animals and vege-
tables ; no author had hitherto known how to em-
ploy synoptical terms with so much brevity and
precision. In creating a language for the Natural
Sciences, he seemed to have prescribed boundaries
which human ignorance could not pass, and to have
fixed his definitions beyond the risk of miscon-
ception.

Some -writers have attempted to compare Lin-
naeus with Aristotle and Buflfon ; others have ho-
noured him nuth the title of the Northern Pliny
and the second Dioscorides. Those parallels, how-
ever, want analogy. To measure Linnaeus with
other Naturalists, is to contrast Scott and Voltaire
with other poets : these men, by the prodigious
extent and variety of their works, stand aloof from
all comparison. It may be possible to find an equal
to Linnaeus as a botanist or a zoologist, or even to
surpass him as a mineralogist ; but where is one to

-MEMOIR OF LINM5US.

71

be found uniting in the same degree all the quali-
ties which constitute these different characters, oi
capable of achieving so wonderful a reformation in
all these several branches of natural history ?

Aristotle, considered as a Naturalist, was un-
doubtedly a man of powerful genius ; but independ-
ently of his treating more particularly of animals
only, we know that for -want of materials, and con-
sequently of more extended observation, he was
unable to establish accurate or comprehensive classi-
fications. LinnsBus, on the other hand, excelled in
those qualifications of method and arrangement in
which the Greek philosopher was defective. Pliny
and Dioscorides succeeded in collecting a vast num-
ber of facts, which they arranged methodically ; but
they seemed incapable of appreciating their value,
or of assigning them their proper place in any
general system. Their works appear like the point
of transition between an age of ignorance, when
every thing is amassed without order, and those
enlightened times when the human mind, better
informed, and consequently more inquisitive, will
adopt nothing on hazard, or without ascertaining
its relative position among other phenomena of the
same class. Those ancient philosophers lived when
natural science was yet in embryo. Some of the
materials which they supplied were admirably fitted
to be incorporated in the edifice reared by Linnssus ;
but to institute comparisons between them, is to do

72

MEMOIR OP LINN2EUS.

injustice to their memory, and betrays a want of
power to appreciate their respective merits.

With regard to Buffon, those who would draw a
parallel between him and Linnaeus, cannot but per-
ceive that there is no true resemblance between
them. The Frenchman, though an excellent inter-
preter of Nature, painted her only in her more
striking and general features, clothing his ingenious
conceptions and his fascinating hypotheses in a style
always pure, free, and eloquent. The Swedish
philosopher is the reverse of all this, sacrificing
every consideration of style to one quality alone,' —
that of conciseness ; and so remarkable is this con-
densation, that a single page of his writings has
frequently given occasion to long treatises, and
even been expanded into voluminous and import-
ant works.

Sometimes he is eloquent too ; when admiring
the works of creation, or paying a last tribute to
the memory of a departed friend, his poetic mind
gives utterance to its emotions in the most touching
and expressive language. But excepting in these
instances, his style was laconic and full of matter.
Buffon wished to make Nature appear lovely.
Linnajus sought to make her plain and intelligible ;
he had, moreover, studied her in all her depart-
ments, whereas the other rarely seized upon any
objects but such as were fitted to make him shine
as a writer. Linnaeus intended to found a school,

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

73

and lie succeeded ; he also wrote in Latin, the uni-
versal language of science in his time. Buffon had
no pretensions of this sort; he chose the French
tongue, as being that of his countrymen, for whom
he wrote. The pupils and successors of Linnaeus
advanced onwards in the discovery of new objects,
taking him for their guide ; the continuators of
Buffon soon lost sight of then - master, and in their
efforts to imitate when they could not rival, to give
importance to what was insignificant or without
real interest, they did injury to the science which
they designed to promote.

But whatever may he the difference between the
merits of these two distinguished philosophers, it
may he truly said that their works form a complete
and distinct whole, as they satisfy the two principal
intellectual desires of mankind, — that of admiring,
and that of becoming acquainted with the works of
creation. Of Buffon, it may be said, that he was
the painter, and of Linnmus, that he was the ex-
pounder of nature ; the former equalled her grandeur
in his descriptions, the latter resembled her in the
vastness and variety of his acquirements.

There are other qualities in which few men of
science can he placed in contrast with Linnams.
Though confessed the prince of Naturalists, in the
three kingdoms of botany, zoology, and mineralogy,
it ought not to he forgotten that he was a profound
linguist, since he was charged by the government
with assisting in a translation of the Bible into

VOL. VI.

E

MEMOIR OF LINN.EUS.

74

Swedish ; — that he was a distinguished physician,
since he published several important works on
different branches of medicine ; — that he was an
able antiquary, since he descanted so learnedly on
the ruins which he met with in the isles of Gothland
and Oeland ; — and finally, that he was an intelli-
gent agriculturist, since he produced a considerable
number of treatises on rural economy. But these
labours, any one of which might have sufficed to
confer distinction on less elevated minds, are scarcely
reckoned of any account amidst the vast multitude
of his writings.

That Linnaeus was a patriot, in the true sense of
the word, enthusiastically devoted to the interests
of his native country, is abuudantly evident from
his refusing the flattering offers of foreign princes,
who tried to tempt him with large pensions to settle
in their dominions. It was his aim to turn his
studies and his public works to the advantage of
Sweden ; the titles which he gave many of them,
showed that he wished her to inherit their fame,
whilst several of them were expressly intended for
improving certain branches of her domestic eco-
nomy.

The life of Linnaeus is a history of the natural
sciences during the eighteenth century. Its principal
incidents have been touched in the preceding sketch :
we have seen him struggling with adversity in his
youth; visiting different countries of Europe to
gather information, and gratify his ardent passion

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS. 'Jit

for a beloved study ; returning to his native land
the most accomplished botanist of his age ; and
finally having all his wishes crowned by being
elevated to the chair he most coveted, and one of
the highest honours to which, in Sweden, a man of
science can aspire. There he reigned supreme,
exercising an influence over the world of science
unparalleled since the days of Aristotle. In the
ancient halls of the Northern Athens he devoted
himself exclusively to his professional labours, with-
out mixing w r ith court intrigues, or taking any
share in the political events which then agitated
Europe. He acquired wealth without selling his
independence, and fame without tarnishing the re-
putation of others.

In bringing this Memoir to a close, it may perhaps
gratify the reader to select a few anecdotes illus-
trating some passages in his life, which have been
only briefly alluded to in the foregoing pages. Of
his journey to Lapland some notice has been taken ;
but it is scarcely possible, without reading the tour
itself, to form an idea of the fatigues and privations
he encountered. In his journal for the month of
June 1732, he gives the following account of his
adventures in attempting to penetrate the country
beyond the river Umea : —

“ On Sunday I left Lycksele, taking with me
only three loaves of bread and some rein-deer
tongues by way of provision. I presumed that I
should procure among the Laplanders flesh of the

MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS.

76

rein-deer, cheese, milk, fish, fowl, &c.; nor indeed
could I well take any 'thing more at present, for
whenever we came to any shoals or falls in the
river, it was necessary for my companion to take
our boat on his head over mountains and valleys ;
so that I had not only my own luggage to carry at
such times, but his likewise. Having next morn-
ing come within the territories of the nearest Lap-
lander, we left our boat on the bank of the river,
and went in search of this man through the wild
forest, where we saw no more traces of roads or
enclosures than if the country had been uninhabited.
W e met, however, with several deserted huts, where
he had at one time or other resided.

“ Being exceedingly tired with this walk, I was
glad to repose myself here in the desert, while my
Finland conductor went in search of my future
guide. Nor was I without considerable fears that
this man, when he had met with the Laplander,
might not be able to find me again ; but about noon
he returned accompanied by a Laplander, who took
charge of me, inviting me home to his hut, where
he treated me with fish and fresh water.

“ I was afterwards conducted from one Laplander
to another, till I came to a part of the river about
twenty-five miles above Lycksele, where there was
a sort of bay or creek which we were under the
necessity of wading through. The water reached
above our waists, and was very cold. In the midst
of this creek was so deep a hole, that the longest

MEMOIR OF LINNEUS.

77

pole could scarcely fathom it. "We had no resource
but to lay a pole across it, on which we passed over
at the hazard of our lives; and, indeed, when I
reached the other side, I congratulated myself in
having had a very narrow escape.

“We had next to pass a marshy tract, almost en-
tirely under water for the course of a mile ; nor is
it easy to conceive the difficulties of the under-
taking. At every step we were knee-deep ; and if
we thought to find a sure footing on some grassy
tuft, it proved treacherous, and only sunk us lower.
Sometimes we came where no bottom was to be
felt, and were obliged to measure hack our weary
steps ; our half-boots were filled with the coldest
water, as the frost in some places still remained in
the ground. Had our sufferings been inflicted as a
capital punishment, they would even in that case
have been cruel. What then had we to complain
of? I wished I had never undertaken the journey,
for all the elements seemed adverse ; it rained and
blew hard upon us. I wondered I escaped with my
life, though certainly not without excessive fatigue
and loss of strength.

“ By four o’clock in the morning we had con-
quered all our difficulties, still we could not meet
with any Laplander ; I was so exhausted that I
could proceed no farther without some repose. We
therefore struck up a fire, and having wrung the
water out of my clothes, I lay down by the side of
it in the hopes of taking a little rest ; but in this I

78 MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

was disappointed. The fire scorched me on one
side, while the cold north wind pinched me on the
other ; and the gnats so stung my hands, face, and
legs, that it was impossible to sleep. Thus I re-
mained in expectation of my conductor, who had
set out in search of another, till two o’clock in the
afternoon. I could not help thinking how miserably
I might have to end my days here, in case he should
think proper to desert me entirely.

“ At length he returned quite spent with fatigue,
and having made inquiry at many of the huts, but
in vain. He brought with him a person whose
appearance was such, that at first I did not know
whether I beheld a man or a woman. I scarcely
believe that any poetical description of a fury could
come up to the idea which this Lapland fair one
excited. It might -well be imagined that she was
truly of Stygian origin. Her stature was very di-
minutive ; her face of the darkest brown, from the
effects of smoke ; her eyes dark and sparkling ; her
eye-brows black; her pitchy-coloured hair hung
loose about her head, upon which she wore a flat
red cap. She had a grey petticoat ; and from her
neck, which resembled the skin of a frog, were
suspended a pair of large loose breasts of the same
brown complexion, but encompassed, by way of
ornament, with brass rings. Hound her waist she
wore a girdle, and on her feet a pair of half-
hoots.

“ Her first appearance really struck me with

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

79

dread ; but though a fury in aspect, she addressed
me with mingled pity and reserve. “ O thou poor
man, what hard destiny can have brought thee
hither, to a place never visited by any one be-
fore ? This is the first time I ever beheld a
stranger. Thou miserable creature ! how didst
thou come, and whither wilt thou go ? Dost thou
not perceive what houses and habitations we have,
and with how much difficulty we go to church V
I inquired how far it was to Sorsele. “ That we
do not know (said she) ; but in the present state
of the roads it is at least seven days’ journey from
lienee."

“ My health and strength being by this time ma-
terially impaired, by wading through such an extent
of marshes laden with my apparel and luggage,—
by walking for whole nights together, — by not
having for a long time tasted any boiled meat, —
by drinking a great quantity of water, as nothing
else was to be had, — and by eating nothing but fish
unsalted and crawling with vermin ; I must have
perished but for a piece of dried rein-deer’s flesh
given me by my kind hostess, the clergyman’s wife,
at Lycksele. How I longed once more to meet
with people who feed on spoon-meat !

“ I inquired of this woman whether she could
give me any thing to eat; she replied, “Nothing
but fish.” I looked at the fresh fish, as it was
called, but perceiving its mouth to be full of
maggots, I had no great appetite to touch it ; but

b'U MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

though it abated my hunger, it did not recruit my
strength. Finding it impossible to proceed in that
direction, I was at last obliged to return the way I
came, though very unwillingly, heartily wishing it
might never he my fate to see this place again. It
was as bad as a visit to Acheron.”

His descriptions of the habits and manners of
the people are sometimes amusing. “ All the
Laplanders (says he) are of a small stature, and
of a thin slender make. I never saw one of them
with a large belly : they do not eat much at a meal,
hut take food from time to time as they feel inclined.
On the other hand, the peasants of Finland cram
themselves with as many turnips, and those of
Scania with as much flummery, as their stomachs
can possibly receive. The inhabitants of Dalecarlia
eat till their body is as tight as a drum. The
Finlanders (about Tomea) are all blear-eyed, to
such a degree as to be nearly blind. I saw many
of them who were perfectly deprived of sight ; and
ninety-nine out of a hundred that were so, had
their eyes shut. It seems in vain to prescribe any
remedy for this evil, so long as its cause is every
where so prevalent. This consists in their smoky
dwellings. If I had the management of these
Finlanders, I would tie them up to the wall and
give them fifteen pair of lashes a piece till they
made chimneys to their huts, especially as they
have such plenty of firewood. This improvement
in the comfort of their dwellings, might surely he

MEMOIR OP LINNjEUS.

81

accomplished by the authority of the chief magis-
trate ; for I have not been able to learn any
sufficient reason for their adherence to their old
way of building. If people thirty or forty years of
age are thus afflicted, what must become of them
by the time they are seventy ?"

Leaving his travels in Lapland, we shall next
accompany Linnaeus to England, of which journey
he has himself given some interesting particulars in
his correspondence. As he was too poor to bear
the expenses, his friend Clifford, as has been al-
ready noticed, advanced the necessary funds. The
principal attractions that drew him to this country
■was the reputation of Sir Hans Sloane, and the
splendid museum which he possessed*. He was
also desirous of becoming acquainted with Dillenius
at Oxford, for whom he professed a high esteem,
and to consult the Pinax of Sherard. The lively
pleasure he felt in seeing the rich landscape scenery
of Great Britain, and especially various plants

* The letter of introduction -which Boerlmave gave his
young friend to Sir Hans, was as complimentary to the
English as to the Swedish Naturalist. “ Linnaeus, who will
present you with this letter, is as deserving of your notice as
you arc of his. Whoever shall have the fortune to meet you
Loth, will see two men whose equals can scarcely be found
in the world.” A description of Sloane’s magnificent collec-
tion has been given in the Memoir prefixed to the History of
the Pachydermia , in a preceding volume of the Naturalist’s
Library.

82 MEMOIR OF LINJMEES.

which do not grow spontaneously in Sweden, he
has expressed in the strongest terms. He speaks
particularly of their hedge-rows of hawthorn in
flower, of which he could not see enough to satisfy
his admiration. It will be more interesting, how-
ever, to let him relate his own account of his adven-
tures in England, especially at Oxford, as given in
a short extract from his journal.

“ After having passed about a year in Holland,
I felt a strong inclination to visit England. I
spoke of it to Clifford, who at once gave his con-
sent. Thinking it possible to make the voyage in
one day, and to return in the same time, I pro-
mised him that I should not remain absent more
than a week ; hut I afterwards found that it re-
quired the whole of that time to make the passage
between Rotterdam and London. Immediately on
my arrival, I went to pay my respects to Philip
Miller, who had been one principal cause of my
visit ; he showed me the garden at Chelsea, and
named to me several plants according to the nomen-
clature then in use. For instance, the Symphytum
comolida major , Jlore luteo. I said nothing ; hut
next day he remarked to me, ‘ That fellow Clifford
is no botanist, he does not know a single plant.’
And as he kept repeating the same names, I took
the opportunity of observing, — ‘ Don’t you call
this plant so and so, and this so and so ? We have
a much better and a far shorter way of naming
them ; they ought to he called so and so.’ Upon

MEMOIR OP LINNiEUS.

83

this lie frowned and grew impatient. I was
anxious to get from him specimens for the Hortus
Cliff ortianm ; but when I went to his house, I
found he had gone to London. When he came
home in the evening he was in better humour, and
promised to give me whatever specimens 1 might
desire. He kept his word; and I set out for
Oxford, having proved myself a tolerably good
purveyor for Clifford.”

At Oxford, Linnmus formed an acquaintance
with several distinguished Naturalists; amongst
whom was Dr. Shaw, the learned author of Travels
in the Levant, who treated him with great kind-
ness. Dillenius at first gave him but a cold
reception ; as he was persuaded that the young
Swede was a dangerous innovator, and had -written
his Genera for the purpose of upsetting the esta-
blished doctrines of botanical science.

“ When I presented myself (continues he) to
Dillenius, I found him with Sherard, to whom
he remarked, — ‘ Here is the man who confounds
all botany.’ I pretended not to understand what
he said. We then strolled for a short while toge-
ther in the garden, where I found, for the first
time, the Antirrhinum minus. I asked him its
name. ‘ How ! (exclaimed he), don’t you know
that plant !’ — ! No (I answered) ; but give me a
single flower, and I can soon tell you.’ — ‘ There
(said he), take one ;’ which I did, and instantly
saw to what genus it ought to belong.

84

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

“ On the third day, finding that Dillenius did
not relax in his coldness towards ine, and that my
money was near an end, I begged him, as I was
ignorant of the English language, to send his ser-
vant to take a passage for me next day in one
of the public vehicles for London. He did so ;
and then I thought I might ask him another
favour, viz. to explain to me the remark which he
had made to Slierard at our first interview. This
he refused ; and upon my insisting, he requested
me to walk into the library, where he showed me a
copy of my Genera Plantarum, of which Grono-
vius had sent him about the \ialf, without my
knowledge ; almost every page of which was marked
with a nota lene. ‘ What am I to understand by
this (said I) V — ‘ Every one of these marks in
your volume (replied he), indicates a false genus.’
I maintained the contrary ; ‘ but if I have been
unwittingly mistaken (added I), allow me at least
to prove my error ; and, if wrong, I shall have no
hesitation in altering these genera .' — ‘ Come, then
(said he), let us analyse the first plants we meet
with in the garden and pulling up a specimen of
the llitum, which he, as well as other botanists,
had described as having three stamina, lie handed
it to me. I opened the flower, and proved to him
that it had but one. ‘ Ha ! (said he), that no
doubt is an anomaly.' I opened several others, all
of which were alike. We then tried several other
genera, and found them all to correspond with my

MEMOIR OF LINNJ2US.

85

description. Dillenius looked at me with astonish-
ment. ‘ You must not leave me (says he) ; you
cannot depart to-morrow.’ He kept me in his
house a month, and gave me whatever plants I
asked for Clifford, who received me on my return
to Holland with ecstasies of joy.”

Linnaeus, although remarkable for politeness,
which he never failed to show to strangers, ot
whom many were drawn by his celebrity to visit
Upsala, had nevertheless a turn for pleasantry and
humour, which he sometimes indulged to humble
vanity, or rebuke conceited ignorance. The follow-
ing anecdote he used to relate to his students, as a
caution to them to take nothing for granted, even
on the word of their master, without due inves-
tigation : —

“ A lady of quality came one day to visit his
collections at Upsala, followed by a small lion-
shaped dog, whose silky hair almost swept the
ground. The venerable Professor accompanied the
lady through his different curiosities, doing the
honours of the University with his accustomed
grace. The questions that she put to him on see-
ing so many animals, unknown and new to her,
w r ere so absurd, that he could hardly refrain from
laughing every time she opened her lips. At
length, to put an end to her queries, he thought
lie might create a little amusement at the expense
of her ignorance. Fixing his eye attentively upon
the dog, he seemed to admire the ingenuity with

86

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

which the skin of the animal had been put on.
‘ The artist (said he) who has given that tender
little creature so thick a coating of fur, has shown
a wonderful degree of judgment and of skill ; for
so perfect is his handywork, that the stitches can
hardly be detected.’ — ‘ Eh ! how ! what say you ?
(exclaimed the lady). A false skin ! — stitches ! —
an artist applying fur! That brute, then, is no-
thing but a little bald monster, covered with a
hide not his own ! How horribly have I been
cheated!’ Then removing the hair, she imagined
she really discovered the seam in a line slightly
marked along the back ; which was, in fact, no-
thing else than the line where the hair separates
itself in opposite directions. The poor innocent
beast was shunned and execrated as an impostor,
and might have fallen into irretrievable disgrace
with its enraged mistress, had not Linmeus added,
with a smile, — ‘ Calm yourself, madam ; the artist
that has sewed on the skin is Nature ; it is Provi-
dence who has given that tender and frail animal
a fleece that may enable it to brave the rigours of
our northern winters.’ The lady perceived the jest ;
laughed, and took the dog again into favour.”

The only other anecdote we shall quote, refers to
his academical habits at an advanced period of
life. It is related by one of his pupils, Fabricius,
well known as a celebrated naturalist. — “ I had the
good fortune (says he) to enjoy the instructions
and the particular acquaintance of Li mucus, from

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

87

J762 till 1764. During all that time I never
passed a single day without seeing him, or assisting
at his prelections. I followed him to the country,
accompanied with two friends, Khun and Zoega,
foreigners like myself. In winter w'e lodged at
Upsala, immediately opposite his house. He visited
us almost every day, without the least ceremony,
in his red dressing-gown, and green cap trimmed
with fur, with his pipe in his hand. Ilis conver-
sation was lively and agreeable: he amused us
with reciting many anecdotes concerning the Swe-
dish and foreign Naturalists whom he had formerly
known ; he explained any difficulties that we had
met with in the course of our studies ; and often
favoured us with his own particular views on the
subject.

“ In our various conversations, it was not uncom-
mon to see him merry and laughing ; good humour
was depicted on his countenance ; and he unbent
himself with a frankness and affability of manner,
which showed his natural disposition for convi-
viality. The time we spent with him in the
country was no less agreeable; we lodged in the
thatched cottage of a peasant, a very' short distance
from his house, where he often came to see us at
six in the morning ; and after breakfast, used to
explain to us the natural order of plants, till ten.
We then accompanied him to theneighbouring rocks,
where he occupied himself in describing and detail-
ing their different productions, till noon, his usual

88

MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS.

time of dinner. We returned to him afterward^
and spent the evening in his society.”

It was his custom to make a botanical excursion
every Saturday, and on these occasions he was
always accompanied with a joyous troop of attend-
ants, amounting often to 1 50 pupils, collected from
all quarters of the world. They were divided into
small bands, and after dispersing themselves over
the country, they met again at the place and hour
appointed, to give an account of their discoveries,
and hear the explanations of their master. Linnaeus
kept near himself only the best informed of the class ;
and it was not unfrequent to hear them, when re-
turning to their place of rendezvous, raising shouts
of joy, which the venerable professor never attempted
to repress. As soon as they had all arrived, he
classified and described the plants that had been
gathered ; and when this was done, a table, with
about twenty covers, was immediately spread and
loaded with fruits, cheese, milk, and other viands.
Those of the pupils who had discovered the rarest
plants, or determined the greatest number, took
their seats at the table with their master ; the rest
partook of the refreshment standing, but not with-
out hopes of one day meriting the honour which
they all so much envied, and which served to keep
up among them a powerful spirit of emulation.

As might have been expected from his great abi-
lity, the honours and tributes of respect conferred
upon him after his death, were exceedingly numerous

MEMOIR OP L1NNJEUS.

80

The Academy of Stockholm caused liis portrait to
be engraved at Paris ; a monument was erected to
him at Edinburgh; and another by the Duke of
Noailles in his garden ; the latter was a cenotaph
with a bust, and a medallion bearing an appropriate
inscription. Idis name was assumed by Botanical
Societies in different parts of Europe ; and the
learned of all nations seemed to vie with each other
in the sincerity of their regret for his loss. The
Academy of Belles Lettres and History at Stock-
holm, instituted a prize for the best eulogium upon
him, to be composed in Latin, French, or Italian.
The King of Sweden caused a medal to be struck,
on one side of which was the head of Linnaeus, and
on the obverse a mourning Cybele, surrounded by
animals and plants, with the motto — “ Deam Indus
angit amissi." The terms in which his Majesty
expressed himself before the Diet of the States,
show how deeply he felt the loss which Science had
sustained by the death of its greatest ornament.
“ I shall never forget (says he) those marks of
attachment which I received in the University of
Upsala before I mounted the throne. There I
founded a new chair ; but, alas ! I have lost a man
whose renown filled the universe, and whom Sweden
will ever be proud to number among her children.
Long will this ancient city remember how much
of her celebrity she owes to him who bears the
name of Linnaeus.”

After so many tokens of regard lavished upon

VOL. VI.

p

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MEMOIR OP LINJLEUS.

Limueus by his king and his countrymen, it is apt
to astonish foreigners to learn, that the Collections
of that distinguished Naturalist were allowed to he
transported from Sweden, as has been already
noticed, and to become the property of an English-
man. The circumstance is thus related by one of
the biographers of Limueus : — “ In Sweden, it is
alleged, that there exists a law which rests in the
State a right of inheriting part of the effects of the
deceased, in all cases where he has exercised any
of the functions connected with Professorships in
the Universities. Madam Linnams, apprehensive
<est, on the death of her son, the collections of her
husband might be seized by the government, made
a secret offer of his herbarium and library to Sir
Joseph Banks ; but the latter not being then in a
condition to make so extensive a purchase, men-
tioned it to Mr. (afterwards Sir James) Smith, who
at once saw the importance of such an acquisition.
The sum demanded by the widow was 1000 livres
Mr. Smith offered 900, which were accepted. The
English consul at Upsala was privately entrusted
with the charge of conveying away the precious
cargo ; but some knowledge of the circumstance
having transpired, the people were dissatisfied, and
threatened to oppose the removal of the cabinets.
The King, when informed of the transaction en-
tered into between Mr. Smith and the widow,
implored the latter to preserve for Sweden those
valuable collections of which she was on the point

MEMOIR OP LINNjEUS.

91

of being deprived ; assuring her, that he would
himself reimburse her for any loss or inconvenience
she might suffer from a breach of contract. But the
offer came too late ; for by that time the treasure
had been embarked on board an English vessel in
one of the neighbouring ports. His Majesty then
immediately ordered an armed frigate to be got
ready ; but meanwhile the Englishmen had sailed ;
the Swedes gave chase ; and had they been able to
make up to her, a rencounter might have ensued,
and the world might perhaps have seen the waters
of the Baltic stained with blood, in a dispute about
possessing the scientific remains of a peaceful Na-
turalist. The frigate continued the pursuit until
she saw her rival enter an English Port full sail,
lauding in safety those cherished relics, the loss of
which must ever be a subject of national regret to
Sweden.”

Robert Bremner, Esq., in his very agreeable
work, “ Excursions in Sweden, &c.,” has supplied
an interesting account of his interview with the
daughter of Linnaeus, which is the more agreeable,
as most biographers have stated that the family of
the illustrious Swede became extinct as long ago as
the year 1783. On reaching Upsala, he naturally
inquired for the house of Linnaeus, and for some
time in vain ; and, while looking dubiously for the
object of his search, was invited in by a lady, who
told him that he should see not only the house; but
the daughter of Linnaeus. This was a most un-
looked for piece of intelligence. “ On ascending the

92

MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS.

stair, however,” he remarks, lt our doubts were completely
expelled. The lady who had first addressed us now spoke a
little English, on discovering what country we belonged to,
and ushered us into a neat little carpeted parlour, where we
found the personage in question, Louisa Von Linn£ herself,
seated on a high-backed arm-chair in company with another
lady. Her appearance was highly interesting, but indicated
a degree of feebleness both bodily and mental, which her
eighty-seven years but too amply justified. Her grey silk
gown and crimped cap spoke of a bygone taste, but were in
excellent keeping with her venerable age; while the tidy
look of every thing about her indicated the unforgotten habits
of order and cleanliness in which she had been trained. She
attempted to rise when we approached, and seemed highly
gratified in learning that wo were all from such far countries,
and had come in search of her father's house out of regard
to his great name. Her speech is almost gone, but she still
follows attentively all that is said. The sharp scrutinizing
glance which she cast at each of us, ere she- consented, to give
us a pinch from her silver’ snuff-box, was highly amusing.
We might be relic hunters — such seemed to be the thought
passing in her mind — and would not restore it. The ex-
tended hand was almost withdrawn — hut a second survey
removed her suspicion, and the antique implement made it*
circuit from one to the other of us, with all the reverence duo
to the name which it bore. Our visit evidently gave her
great pleasure ; it seemed as if she had never known the ex-
tent of her father's fame : she could scarcely understand how
people from such distant countries coni d know or have heard
aught about the. Swedish professor. The other ladies were
obligingly communicative, and mentioned that the fortune left
by her father was so considerable, that she had been able to
retain all her life the country seat purchased by him, which
is so near, that she spends a great part of the year there. A*
we took her hand at parting, and felt the sands of life ebbing
so fast that a few weeks might lay her by his side, we rejoiced
that our idle visit had sluxl a glimpse of joy over the last
hours of a great man’s child.”

From a late Number of the Atherueum, we learn that this
lady died on the 21st of March, 1839, at the venerable age of
ninety, and that her fortune descended to two grand-daugh-
ters of the Swedish Botanist.

ORNITHOLOGY.

NATURAL HISTORY OF HUMMING-BIRDS.

Hi 8 silken vest ■was purfled o’er with green.

And crimson rose-leaves wrought the sprigs between ;
His diadem, a topaz, beam’d so bright.

The moon was dazzled with its purest light.

The geographical distribution of the various races
of created beings has of late excited considerable in-
terest, and a mass of facts have been collected which
go far to prove that it is regulated by certain laws,
chiefly dependent upon the conjoined influences of
climate and temperature. Birds are equally subject
to those rules, though, as might be suspected from
their more extended locomotive powers, their ranges
are wider, and some groups and species are more
generally spread over the world than those beings
which require the assistance of a solid medium to
transport themselves from place to place. Instances
of this may be given in one or two examples. The
great families of the falcons, pigeons, and swallows,
are universally diffused ; parrots are found in every

94

HUMMING-BIRDS.

quarter of the world except Europe; and woodpeckers
are wanting only to New Holland. The peregrine
falcon, so renowned in a noble, but nearly forgotten,
sport, has its free range over the greater part of Europe,
America, and Greenland, and has been sent from the
distant continent of New Holland ; the short-eared
owl is common to Europe, Siberia, North America, and
the neighbourhood of Canton in China, and Pennant
mentions it as an inhabitant of the Falkland Islands ;
the common magpie extends over Europe, has been
sent from the Himmalayan range in India, and reaches
to the cold regions of North America ; while specimens
of the glossy ibis have reached this country from each
of the four quarters of the w'orld, besides from many
of its far distant insulated lands.

At variance, however, with this, we sometimes also
find the large continents possessing some peculiar
forms ; but, as if the economy of each great land could
not be properly supported without an organization
somewhat analogous, there is, in most instances, a re-
presentative, modified and adapted to the region it is
destined to inhabit. Thus, America has the South
American ostrich, or nandu, inhabiting the vast grassy
pampas of Paraguay, and extending nearly to the
Straits of Magellan ; India, and her great archipelago
of islands, particularly the Moluccas and Borneo,
possess the cassuary ; Africa, the true ostrich ; and
New Holland, the emeu. The Great Sahara, and
the deserts of Arabia, little fitted for the abode of any
animal creation, have their peculiarities in the coursers

HUMMING-BIRDS.

95

and ganga, or sand-grouse, beautifully formed for abode
in these weary solitudes. They sweep them with a
flight as rapid as the mighty hurricane, and receive as
much enjoyment in a boundless waste, as the ruff-
necked and pheasant-tailed grouse in the rich and
luxuriant prairies of North America, or our native
moorfowl on the heath-clad knolls of its Highland
hills. In like manner do Africa and India, in their
creepers and honeysuckers, present splendid types to
a class of fairy birds nearly confined to the deep and
shady forests of tropical America.

The beautiful and delicate beings to which we must
now particularly direct the attention of our readers,
appear to have excited the admiration of their dis-
coverers, and, indeed, of every one who has observed
them, either reveling in their native glades, or at rest
in the more artificial display of our museums, by the
spirited proportions of their form, and the dazzling
splendour of their plumage.

M Delicate and beautiful,

Thick ■without burden, close as fishes* scales.”

The ancient Mexicans used their feathers for superb
mantles in the time of Montezuma,* and the pictures

* The nation of the Aztecs call their capital Tzinzunzan, from
tho number of humming-birds in its vicinity, -with -which the
statues of their gods are adorned ; and the Indians of Patzquara
are still famous for this art. They compose figures of saints with
the feathers of the colibri, which are remarkable for the delicacy
of the execution, and the brilliancy of the colours. — Ward's
Mexico in 1827.

96

HUMMING-BIRDS.

bo much extolled by Cortes were embroidered with
their skins ; — the Indian could appreciate their love-
liness, delighting to adorn his bride with gems and
jewellery plucked from the starry frontlets of these
beauteous forms. Every epithet which the ingenuity
of language could invent, has been employed to depict
the richness of their colouring ; the lustres of the topaz,
of emeralds, and rubies, have been compared with
them, and applied in their names. “ The hue of roses
steeped in liquid fire,” and even the “ cheveux de
l’astre du jour ” of the imaginative Buffon, fall short
of their versatile tints.* Let us enquire, however,
whether an exterior of “ gorgeous plumery ” is all
which they possess, and if there is no beautiful adap-
tation of structure to supply the wants of so frail a
tenement.

The humming-birds, or what are known by the
genus Trochilus of Linnaeus, have lately received vast
additions to the number of their species, and, though
forming a large and closely connected group, they
exhibit a great variety of forms and characters, which
are not easily comprehended in the old twofold divi-
sion, “ into those with straight, and those with curved
bills.” They have been, accordingly, divided by
modem ornithologists into various sections and genera,
which will be detailed in that part of our work devoted
to their classical arrangement.

We previously mentioned that these birds were

* Their name in the Indian language is Beams or Locks of
the Sun.

HUMMING-BIRDS.

97

nearly confined to the tropical portions of the New
World, and, according to our best information, that
great archipelago of islands between Florida and the
mouths of the Orinoco, with the mainland of the
southern continent, until it passes the Tropic of Capri-
corn, literally swarms with them.* In the wild and
uncultivated parts, they inhabit those forests of mag-
nificent timber overhung with lianas and the superb
tribe of bignonacese, the huge trunks clothed with a
rich drapery of parasites, whose blossoms only give
way in beauty to the sparkling tints of their airy
tenants ; but since the cultivation of various parts of
the country, they abound in the gardens, and seem to
delight in society, becoming familiar and destitute of
fear, hovering over one side of a shrub, while the fruit
or flowers is plucked from that opposite. As we recede
from the tropics, on either side, the numbers decrease,
though some species are found in Mexico, and other*
in Peru, which do not appear to exist elsewhere.
Thus Mr Bullock discovered several species at a high
elevation, and consequently low temperature, on the
lofty table lands of Mexico, and in the woods in the
vicinity of the snowy mountains of Orizabo ; while
Captain King, in the late survey of the southern
coasts, met with numerous members of this diminu-
tive family flying about in a snow-storm near the
Straits of Magellan, and discovered two species, which
he considered undescribed, in the remote island of

* It is remarked by Lesson, that the colibris, or those special
with curved bills* never pass the intcrtropical limits.

HUMMING-BIRDS.

P8

Juan Fernandez.'* Two species only extend far into
the northern continent of America. The one, the
ruff-necked humming-bird, ( Selasphorus ru/tis, Swain-
son,) was discovered by Captain Cook in Nootka
Sound, and has been traced by Kotzebue to the Gl 0 along
the western shores ; the other, the northern humming-
bird, (TrockUus colubris, Linnaeus,) so beautifully de-
scribed by Wilson, has been obtained from the plains
of the Saskaehewan, and was found breeding by Mr
Drummond near the sources of the Elk River ; it is
know to reach as far north as the 57th parallel.

The best accounts of the habits and economy of the
humming-birds are those given by Wilson and Audu-
bon, in their histories of the northern or ruby-throated
humming-bird ; and by Bullock, of several species
which are found in Mexico and in the island of
Jamaica. And from the little we have been able to
glean from other writers, there appears to exist great
similarity in their manners. They are of a lively
and active disposition, almost constantly on the wing,
and performing all their motions with great rapidity ;
their flight is in darts, and it is at this time, in a
brilliant sun, that the variations of their plumage are
displayed with the greatest advantage.

“ Each rapid movement gives a different dye ;

Like scales of burnish’d gold they dazzling show,

Now sink to shade — now like a furnace glow.”

* Trochilus Fernandensis, and T. Slokesii, King . — Reports

of Zool. Soc. for Jan. 1831 Mon. Bertcrs, a French botanist,

remained on the island of Juan Fernandez to examine its vegetable
productions, and records that three species exist on it.

HUMMING-BIRDS.

99

But when performing a lengthened flight, as during
migration, they pass through the air in long undula-
tions, raising themselves for somo distance, and then
falling in a curve. When about to feed, or in search
of a favourite flower, they hover stationary, surveying
all around, and suddenly dart off' to the object. “ I
have often stopped,” says Wilson, “ with pleasure, to
observe their manoeuvres among the blossoms of a
trumpet-flower. When arrived before a thicket of
these that are in full bloom, he poises or suspends
himself on wing, for the space of two or three seconds,
so steadily, that his wings become invisible, or only
like a mist.” And Bullock says, “ they remain sus-
pended in the air in a space barely sufficient for them
.0 move their wings, and the humming noise proceeds
entirely from the surprising velocity with which they
perform that motion, by which they will keep their
bodies in the air, apparently motionless, for hours to-
gether.” An older writer, Fermin, a Surinam physi-
cian, compares this action to the balancing of the bee-
like flies over foetid waters ; perhaps it may be also
likened to the motions of a large hawk-moth before
alighting on a flower.

“ They seldom alight upon the ground, but perch
easily on branches. The ruby-throated humming-birds
settle on twigs and branches, where they move, side-
wise in prettily measured steps, frequently opening
and closing their wings, pluming, stroking, and
arranging the whole of their apparel, with neatness
and activity. They are particularly fond of spread-

100

HUMMING-BIRDS.

ing one wing at a time, and passing each of the quill-
feathers through their bill in its whole length, when,
if the sun is shining, the wing thus plumed is rendered
extremely transparent and light.” *

They are also possessed of boldness and familiarity.
Wilson has seen them attack and tease the king-bird,
and among themselves they are exceedingly pugna-
cious, two males seldom meeting on the same bush or
flower without a battle. In the gardens they flutter
about without heeding intruders. “ A person standing
by the side of a common althea in hloom, will be sur-
prised to hear the humming of their wings, and then
see the birds themselves within a few feet of him.”
And Wilson mentions one so familiar as to enter a
room by the window, examine the bouquets of flowers,
and pass out by the opposite door. The same was
known to take refuge in a hothouse during the cool
nights of autumn, to go regularly out in the morning,
and to return as regularly in the evening, for several
days together.

During the breeding season, if the nest is approach-
ed, they dart round with a humming sound, often
passing within a few inches of the person ; and should
the young be newly hatched, the female will almost
immediately resume her seat, though the intruders
continue within a few yards distance. The intre-
pidity and jealousy of a diminutive Mexican species,
( T. eganopogon — Mexican star,) according to Mr
Bullock, far exceeds the quiet courage of the northern

* Audubon.

HUMMING-BIRDS.

101

birds. “ When attending their young, they attack
any bird indiscriminately that approaches the nest.
Their motions, when under the influence of anger or
fear, are very violent, and their flights rapid as an
arrow. The eye cannot follow them, but the shrill
piercing shriek which they utter on the wing, may be
heard when the bird is invisible, and often led to their
destruction by preparing me for their approach. They
attack the eyes of the larger birds, and their sharp
needle-like bill is a truly formidable weapon in this
kind of warfare. Nothing can exceed their fierceness
when one of their own species invades their territory
during the breeding season ; under the influence of
jealousy they becomeperfect furies ; theirthroats swell ;
their crests, tails, and wings expand ; they fight in
the air, uttering a shrill noise, till one falls exhausted
to the ground.” And an older writer, Fernando
Oviedo, still farther confirms their boldness : — “ When
they see a man climb the tree where they have their
nests, they flee at his face, and stryke him in the eyes,
eommying, goying, and returnying, with such swyft.
ness, that no man woulde ryglitly beleive it that hath
not seen it.”

The nests are built with great delicacy, but at the
same time with much compactness and warmth.
Wilson thus describes the situation and workmanship
of the northern, or ruby-throated humming-bird, and
which is also confirmed by Audubon. “ It is generally
fixed on the upper side of a horizontal branch, not
among the twigs. Yet I have known instances where

102

HUMMING-BIRDS.

it was attached, by the side to an old moss-grown
trunk ; and others, where it was fastened on a strong
rank stalk, or weed, in the garden. In the woods it
often chooses a white oak sapling, and the branch is
seldom more than ten feet from the ground. The nest
is about an inch in diameter, and as much in depth ;
the outward coat is formed of small pieces of a species
of bluish-gray lichen, that vegetates on old trees and
fences, thickly glued with the saliva of the bird, giving
firmness and consistency to the whole, as well as
keeping out moisture. Within this are thick, matted
layers of the fine wings of certain flying seeds, closely
laid together ; and lastly, the downy substance Irom
the great mullein, and from the stalks of the common
fern, lines the whole. The base of the nest is con-
tinued round the stem of the branch, to which it closely
adheres, and when viewed from below, appears a mere
mossy knot or accidental protuberance.” On the
plains, near the Elk River, the nest of this hardy bird
was built of the materials that were most appropriate
in the country ; the downy seeds of an anemone, bound
with a few stalks of moss and lichen.

Lesson describes the nest of 1 'rockilus pella as
principally composed of a spongy cellular substance,
apparently similar to that of a fungus of which some
species of wasps build large habitations, suspended
from the branches of trees in the virgin forests of
Guiana ; and the same naturalist has given a curious
figure of the nest of T. cristata ? composed entirely of
the down of some thistle ; the seed is attached, and is

HUMMING-BIRDS.

103

placed outwards, giving a jagged or prickly appearance
to the outside, while the interior is warmly lined with
the down. Dr Latham says, that the nest of the black
humming-bird is also made of cotton, entwined round
the thorns and twigs of the citron-tree, and is of so
firm a texture as not to be easily broken by the winds ;
and a nest of the topaz-crested humming-bird, now
before me, about seven-eighths of an inch in diameter,
is composed of the same materials, stuck over with
lichens on the outside, and firmly fixed in the hanging
cleft of some strong creeper by threads of a cottony
substance, and very slender roots or tendrils, the whole
lower part as if cemented by a thin coat of glue. It
is probable that the greater number build their nests
nearly in a similar manner, and in proportion to their
size, though there are also some variation in the dif-
ferent forms, which a little more attention may allow
us to introduce in our reasoning upon their affinities.
Thus, in some valuable remarks accompanying a col-
lection of birds from Tobago, we have, regarding the
T.lrirsutus, (provinciallynamcd doctorhuinming-bird,)
— “ It builds its nest suspended like that of the yellow-
tail, (Cassinis cristatus,) with the entrance somewhat
downwards, and lays only one egg.” The nest received
is of a lengthened form, composed of dried grass and
slender roots, moss, &e., and does not show the com-
pact manufacture of those previously described. It is
suspended to the leaf of some reed- like plant, to which
it is cemented chiefly by the threads of spiders or
caterpillars. I trust erelong to procure some interest-

104

HUMMING-BIRDS.

ing answers to my queries from the same source. Our
materials at present to judge from are, however, very
scanty. There is one provision apparent in the whole,
that for warmth, — and most necessary, when we con-
sider the small bulk of the owners to retain the animal
heat.

Most writers agree in the fact, that humming-birds
lay only two eggs, but we have seen that the T.
hirsutus lays only one. This small fecundity, with
the many casualties which are liable to destroy them,
the vicissitudes of season and the assaults of various
animals, birds, and even insects, will give us some
idea in what immense profusion these little birds exist,
when two, or at most four, is the number of young
reared in a season. The eggs are not so small in pro-
portion as one would imagine on looking at the bird.
That of the topaz-crested humming-bird is nearly | of
an inch in length, and about f in diameter. In shape
they are nearly a complete oval, and are pure and deli-
cate white. The period of incubation is remarkably
short. Latham says that the black humming-bird sits
twelve days, and that the young leave the nest and
follow their parents in eighteen days ; and the North
American species, according to Audubon, hatches only
ten days, and the young are ready to fly in one week.

The desire to possess creatures of such beauty in a
tame state, has induced persons often to try the ex-
periment of keeping them in cages, though yet com-
paratively without success. The attempts which have
been made, however, do not preclude a possibility, by

HUMMING-BIRDS.

105

perseverance, of ever bringing them to this country.
Bullock said that he had nearly seventy in cages,
that no bird was more easily reconciled to its new
situation, and that by attention they , might easily have
been brought to Europe. We leam also from Azara,
Wilson, and other sources, that they have been fre-
quently kept in their native countries for several
months on sugar or honey and water, assisted by the
insects which were attracted by and drowned in the
sweets ; and Charles Peale, proprietor of the Phila-
delphia Museum, reared two from the nest, which be-
came so tame as to perch on Mrs Peale’s shoulder.

The only instance of then being carried to a differ-
ent climate is thus related by Latham ; and there can
e little doubt, from the partial success of these at-
tempts, that great care and greater experience, with
a more perfect knowledge of their proper food, would
enable them to reach this country, and perhaps adorn
a separate apartment in some conservatory. The
European summer birds of passage have been now
successfully kept in confinement for several years, and
an attempt upon similar principles might prosper.

It was a mango humming-bird ( T. mango ) which
was successfully brought to England , — “ A young
gentleman, a few days before he sailed from Jamaica
for England, met with a female humming-bird sitting
on the nest and eggs, and cutting off the twig, he
brought altogether on board. The bird became suffi-
ciently tame to suffer herself to be fed on honey and

VOL. VI.

G

106

HUMMING-BIBDS.

water during the passage, and hatched two young ones.
The mother, however, did not long survive, but the
young were brought to England, and continued for
some time in the possession of Lady Hammond. The
little creatures readily took honey from the lips of Lady
Hammond, and though the one did not live long, the
other survived for at least two months from the time
of their arrival.”

The food of the humming-birds was always con-
sidered to be only the honey or sweet juices extracted
from the nectaria of flowers ; but later observations
have proved that this alone was not sufficient to pre-
serve even such small bodies j and when we compare
the structure of the tongue with that of birds which
use that member for darting suddenly out and catch-
ing up small objects, we shall find considerable resem-
blance, and the adaptation is farther confirmed by the
reality of their food being in a measure insectivorous.
Audubon found even coleopterous insects in their
stomach, and Wilson observes — “ I have seen the
humming-bird, for half an hour at a time, darting at
those little groups of insects that dance in the air in a
fine summer evening, retiring to an adjoining twig to
rest, and renewing the attack with a dexterity that
sets all other fly-catchers at defiance." And in all
the deep tubular flowers in which they so much delight,
such as the different datura, the bignonaceae, &c., I
have no doubt that insects are as often withdrawn! by
their active and viscid tongue as any portion of the
honey.

HUMMING-BIROS.

107

But of the various ways employed by these birds
to procure an insect prey, the most singular as well as
dangerous to themselves, is that of seizing the half-
dead entangled flies from the webs of the large Mexican
bird-spider — whose name implies a power to seize and
detain some of the weaker at least of the feathered
race. It is thus detailed by Mr Bullock, and is so
curious that the account must be given without abridge-
ment : — “ The house I resided in at Zalappa for several
weeks, on my return to Vera Cruz, was only one story
high, enclosing, like most of the Spanish houses, a
small garden in the centre, the roof projecting six or
seven feet from the walls, covering a walk all round,
and leaving a small space only between the tiles and
the trees which grew in the centre. From the edges
of these tiles to the branches of the trees in the garden,
the spiders had spread their innumerable webs so
closely and compactly, that they resembled a net. I
have frequently watched, with much amusement, the
cautious peregrinations of the humming-bird, who,
advancing beneath the web, entered the various laby-
rinths and cells in search of entangled flies ; but as
the larger spiders did not tamely surrender their booty,
the invader was often compelled to retreat. Being
within a few feet, I could observe all their evolutions
with great precision. The active little bird generally
passed once or twice round the court, as if to recon-
noitre his ground, and commenced his attack by going
carefully under the nets of the wily insect, and seizing
by surprise the smallest entangled flies, or those that

308

HUMMING-BIRDS.

were most feeble. In ascending the angular traps of
the spider, great care and skill was required ; some-
times he had scarcely room for his little wings to
perform their office, and the least deviation would
have entangled him in the complex machinery of the
web, and involved him in ruin. It was only the
works of the smallest spider that he durst attack, as
the largest rose to the defence of their citadels, when
the besieger would shoot off like a sunbeam, and could
only be traced by the luminous glow of his refulgent
colours. The bird generally spent about ten minutes
in this predatory excursion, and then alighted on the
branch of an avocata to rest and refresh himself.”

In the preceding pages we have endeavoured to
give a short history of the distribution and economy
of this interesting family, deriving our information
from those sources which we judged were most worthy
of credence, and always, when possible, from observers
who had seen the birds in their wild state, and un-
trammeled by any restraint. The examination of
their structure will have the next claim to our atten-
tion, with its adaptation to the habits we have already
attempted to describe.

When we examine attentively the structure of any
bird, we soon come to the conclusion that the most
important parts of its outward form are those organs
which serve for the means of transporting it from place
to place. On presenting a humming-bird to the most
common observer, the first exclamation generally is,
“ What a beautiful little creature!” The second.

HUMMING-BIRDS.

10D

‘ But what large wings it has ! ’ Such, indeed, is the
case, and in most instances the size of the wings and
strength of their quills are entirely out of proportion
to our ideas of symmetry in a creature clothed with
feathers ; but, upon comparing them with its necessi-
ties, and the other parts of its frame, their utility and
design become obvious. All their other parts, not
called into action during flight, are very slender,
almost frail ; their tarsi are short, and the feet small,
so as not to incommode during flight, while they point
out an inability for any long support, or assistance in
procuring sustenance, by climbing or hanging in various
positions, as we see employed by the titmice, and
many of the slender-billed warblers. Their food is
derived from the sweet nectar of flowers, or from
insects which must either be taken in a rapid flight,
or withdrawn from the deep tube, or cup-shaped re-
cesses of blossoms which grow and hang in every
direction, and which it would be impossible to reach,
unless by suspension above or under. Another great
necessity for their possessing organs of such power, is
to enable them to pass in safety through the migra-
tions, and the long flights which are sometimes neces-
sary for their preservation, and during which they
have often to withstand a passing gale, showers, or
even the rigour of a snow-storm. The beautiful
climes where we have seen they inhabit, are at
seasons subject to perpetual rains, which drench and
almost inundate their abodes, or to hurricanes, that in
a few minutes leave only a wreck of all that was

HUMMING-BIRDS.

no

before so magnificent and luxuriant ; and they pass
by these means before the dangerous season, to districts
where the reparation of a previous wreck is proceeding
with all the magical rapidity of tropical vegetation.

The form of the wings is very nearly similar to those
of the swift, ( Cypselus , Illiger,) whose power of flight
every one is acquainted with. They in general ex-
ceed the tail in length, unless when that member is
extraordinarily developed. The exterior outline of

the wing is very much curved, and the first quill is
always longest, the others shortening gradually. The
secondaries are very short, and the lesser wing-coverts
occupy little space. The plumulets of the quills
are narrow and compact, firmly united together, form-
ing a substance, when used, almost like a thin plate
of whalebone, and which, by presenting resistance to
the air when struck, and allowing no part to pass
through the webs, as in nocturnal feeding birds, pro-
duces that humming sound which is heard during their
suspension, and whence their common name has been
applied. In all, the shafts of the quills are remark-
ably strong and elastic, but in a few species, known

IIUMMING-BIRDS.

Ill

under the denomination of sickle or sabre-winged
humming-birds, and forming the genus Campylopterus
of Swainson, they are developed to an extraordinary
degree at the base, and nearly equal the breadth of
the plume.

The birds composing this division are large, but not
the largest of the family ; and our present information
of their habits does not point out any peculiarity to
which this development is adapted. It, besides, is
wanting, or in a great measure reduced, in the females
of some of them. Mr Swainson has figured two birds,
which seem almost identical, except in the absence of
the broad shaft in the one \ and in specimens of the
sabre-wing, which we have figured at Plate XXXIV,
the shafts of the female bird were in breadth only
about one-half.

The organ of next importance, as directing the flight,
is the tail. This is always powerful, and presents
every modification which we find in those birds
endowed with powerful or rapid flight, and will be of
use to the systematist in directing the forms which
present themselves in analogy with the other families

112

HUMMING-BIRDS.

of the feathered race. In one species* it presents a
very curious anomaly among birds, by being composed
of only six feathers. This species is rare, and I have
had no opportunity for an examination ; but the testi-
monies of Temminck and Lesson show that it is not
an accidental variation, but that it remains constant
in all the birds which they have examined.

The bill is always an important organ in birds.
This family presents great modification of form, which
will be seen by inspecting the plates, and will be far-
ther illustrated when we characterise the divisions.
But although most of the species are partly insecti-
vorous, and take a great portion of their food in the
air, we find no rictorial bristles or great develop-
ment at the base, as among the truly insectivorous
tribes ; and except in one or two instances, no very
evident appropriation of structure. In a few species
the edges of the mandibles are toothed, (see Plates
I. II. and III.,) and in the individuals which form the
genus Ramphodon of Lesson, this member is furnished

with recurved saw-like teeth, a manifest provision for
more effectually securing some peculiar prey.

The tongue and its accessory parts show a greater

* See Plate XXVII.

HUMMING-BIRDS.

113

resemblance to the scansorial insectivorous birds, be-
ing in fact nearly similar in their formation to those
of the woodpeckers. The os hyoides passes round
the back part of the skull, and its horns, or extre-
mities, when joined, reach forward beyond the line
of the eyes.

The tongue is very long, and by the structure of its
parts above mentioned, is retractile, and capable of
being darted out with considerable force. It is com-
posed, according to Brisson and Lesson-, (which we
have confirmed as far as the examination of the moist-
ened parts would allow,) of two muscular tubes joined
together for the greater part of their length ; towards

the tip, broadened or swelling, and, according to
Lesson, terminated in a spoonlike point on the up-

114

HUMMING-BIRDS.

per surface. They assist in retaining the different
substances, which are immediately conveyed to the

opening of the oesophagus by the contractility of
the tubes. Our own examination, however, of the
tongue of the Trochilus moschitus, relaxed with warm
water, gave the appearance of a fimbriated opening

at the tip, having the exterior margin of each fork set
with recurved sharp-pointed pliable spines, as if to
assist its viscidity in securing any substance seized by
them.

Their feet, as we have before said, are small and
slender, and in general present the form which we see
among the kingfishers, bee-eaters, and jackamars.
The claws are rather large in proportion, very much
hooked, very sharp, and may thereby assist in secu-
ring a firmer grasp, but which is evidently little needed
in their economy. For one purpose they would be
useful, if Mr Bullock is correct in his observations ;
that gentleman remarks, that, “ in sleeping they fre-

HUMMING-BIRDS.

115

quently suspend themselves by the feet, with their
heads downwards, in the manner of some parrots.”

The structure of the feathers, which shine with so
much lustre, has occupied the attention of most of
their describers. Audebert has tried to demonstrate
the cause on mathematical principles, the form of the
feathers, and the manner in which the light strikes
them ; while Lesson is of opinion, that the colours
are due to elements contained in the blood, and dif-
fused by circulation. He says, at the same time,
that all the barbules and plumulets are deeply fur-
rowed in the centre, and the light, when striking ver-
tically, produces no colour, or only black ; but when
striking transversely, every opposite side of the furrow
acts as a reflector to the others, and in this way assists
in producing the colours.

Bullock, when speaking of the same subject, says,
that “ the preserved specimens were but the shadow
in brilliancy to what they were in life. The reason is
obvious ; for the sides of the laminee, or fibres of each
feather, being of a different colour from the surface,
will change when seen in a front or oblique direction ;
and as each lamina or fibre turns upon the axis of the
quill, the least motion, when living, causes the fea-
thers to change suddenly to the most opposite hues.”
We have thought it proper to mention those different
opinions ; and though they do not entirely coincide
with our own, we are not at present able to explain
all the causes. In birds possessing this shining and
metallic variation of lustre, we have found the struc-

116

HUMMING-BIRDS.

ture of the feathers exhibiting them so various, that
the effects must be produced in several ways. Dia-
grams of many of these have been from time to tune
made ; and when a little more complete, an opportu-
nity will be taken of introducing them, in illustration
of this curious subject.

DESCRIPTIONS.

The following plates, with their descriptions, have
been made as much as possible from specimens of the
birds themselves, but when these could not be pro-
cured, they are taken from those works which could
be most relied upon for their accuracy. We have
accordingly availed ourselves generally of Lesson’s
splendid monograph of this family, and of Temminck’s
Planches Coloriees. For the plate of the sabre-winged
humming-bird, we are indebted to Mr Swainson, who
kindly permitted his beautiful figure, in the first series
of the Zoological Illustrations, to be copied, and speci-
mens of the bird itself having since reached us, have
served for the description.

The systematic arrangement of this family presents
considerable difficulties. Mr Swainson has given the
characters of what he considers the five leading groups,
and has also formed several subgenera. M. Lesson
has also instituted several families and genera, and
we understand that Mr Lodiges, who possesses a col-
lection unrivaled by any in Europe, has lately been
engaged in working out their proper arrangement.

118

HUMMING-BIRDS.

The desire to procure every information previous to
forming any decided opinion, has therefore determined
us to attempt no arrangement in the present volume,
and, with two exceptions, to retain the whole under
the family name of Trockilus. The genera which
have been adopted, are illustrated in the first and last
plates.

In a second volume now in preparation, it is in-
tended to figure thirty-five or forty additional species,
and with these to give the characters of the families
and genera which have been instituted, illustrating
the parts and dissections by woodcuts ; to add a
systematic synopsis of the species which have been
described, and in this manner endeavour to complete
the natural history of the group.

Bm l

.

KA.MPI1OP0N N/K V I US ."Native of Rio Janiero.
Spotted, saw -hilled lluinmiiii' i'u'd. )

119

SPOTTED SAW-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD*
Ramphodon naevius. — Lesson.

Plate I. — Male.

Trochilus naevius, Dumont Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles y
x. 55. — Colibri tachete, Trochilus ntevius, Temminck , Plan*
ches Colonels , cxx. fig. 3. — Le Ramphodon tachete, Rampho-
don maculatum, Lesson , Histoire Naturelle des Colibris,
pi. i.

We mentioned in the introductory part of the work,
that among the humming-birds we did not generally
meet with, in the form of the bill, any evident provi-
sion for securing an insect prey as among the truly
insectivorous tribes, farther than the retractile tongue.
For the species now figured, there is, however, an
exception in the strong and rather broad bill, furnished
upon each edge of the mandibles with strong recurved
teeth, evidently intended to assist in securing some
peculiar prey, and reminding us by this formation,
and the sharp hooked point, of some water-fowl which
are provided with these requisites, for seizing a plun-

* It may be here mentioned, that all the figures in this volume
arc represented of the natural size.

120

HUMMING-BIRDS.

der at once slippery and vigilant. In none of the
descriptions do we find any notice taken of the adap-
tation of this structure, and we are yet in the dark
regarding the manner in which it is employed. In
the two next plates, where the bill presents also a
very curious form, we have the edges toothed in a
weaker degree, and Mr Swainson is of opinion that
the turned up form assists also in procuring some
peculiar nourishment.

This species was discovered in Brasil by MM.
Delalande and Naterer, chiefly on the mountains of
Coreovado, in the vicinity of Rio Janeiro. It is not
generally common in collections, though Lesson says
that in Paris many specimens are now to be found.

The length of the bird, including the bill, is about
five inches and a half ; the crown, back, and shoulders,
are olive green, with metallic reflections, which are
much brighter on the shoulders and wing-coverts.
The auricular feathers, and a patch extending down
the sides of the neck, are of a bright reddish-brown,
darker below the eye, and at the tips of the auricular?,
where it assists in relieving a streak from the eye, of
the same colour, but of a paler tinge. The wings are
strong, and with the very powerful shafts, are of a rich
purplish brown. The tail is very much rounded ; the
centre feathers, and the base of the outer ones, are of
the same colour with the wings, and the tips of the
outer feathers are of a pale yellowish brown, the pale
colour covering the tip only of those next the centre,
gradually extending in length upon those on the out

SPOTTED SAW-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD. 121

side, and contrasting finely with the dark parts ; the
feet are remarkably small and slender. M. Lesson has
formed from this species his subgenus Ramphodon,
under which it should now stand. It is yet a solitary
representative, and the female is unnoticed by any
ornithological writer.

VOL. VI.

H

122

A V OSET-BI LLED HUMMING-BIRD
Trochilus avocetta — Lesson.

Plate II.

L’Oiseau-mouche avocette, Omismya avocetta. Lesson , Ilistoire
Natureile des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. xxiv.

The curious form and structure of the bill of the
birds figured on this and the following plates, first
attracted the attention of Mr Swainson, who gave an
excellent representation of the latter on plate 105 of
his Illustrations, from specimens procured in Peru by
Mr Bullock. Upon the publication of M. Lesson’s
beautiful monograph of this family, he was obliged to
have recourse to Mr Swainson’s figure, to gratify (he
observes) the French amateurs with the representation
of a bird so rare and curious, no specimen at this time
existing in the Paris collections. Soon after, an acces-
sion of species previously unknown to him, occasioned
the continuation of the monograph by a supplement,
and he has in it figured two birds, the one as identi-
cal with T. recurvirostris, Swainson, the other given
under the title of T. avocetta, and considered by that
ornithologist as the young of some new and undescribed

.

r .

PLATE 2

TROCHILUS AVOCETTA
i Aroset- billed Humming Bird. )
"Native of Peru.

Zizars sc.

■

;

AVOSEX-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD.

123

species. There is very considerable alliance between
them, but it is impossible to decide, without a more
extensive examination of specimens than we at present
possess ; and copies of Lesson’s beautiful plates have
been introduced, more from the desire to exhibit the
curious form of the bill, than to discriminate the
species.

We provisionally retain Lesson’s name for this bird,
and nearly translate his description. With the next,
the descriptions of both Lesson and Swainson are
given.

The individual from which the accompanying plate
was taken, is part of the collection of M. Longuemare
in Paris, and was received from Cayenne. The length
is about three inches and six lines, of which the bill
occupies nearly seven lines ; the bill is black, rather
strong, assumes a singular bend upwards, and has the
extremity of each mandible very fine, and slightly
flattened. The wings equal the tail in length, and
are of a brownish purple; the tail is large, and on
both sides is of a dull blackish blue ; the upper part
of the head, the back, rump, and shoulders, are of a
golden green ; a patch of emerald green occupies the
forepart of the neck, and is bordered by a lateral line
of white, which reaches almost to the crissum ; from
the green of the neck, a broad patch of deep black
stretches along the centre of the belly, and is also
bordered by the white streak above mentioned ; the
flanks are of a greenish brown, and the under coverts
are brownish.

124

RECURVED-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus recurvirostris Swa inson.

Plate III. Youno.

Recurved-billcd Humming-bird, Swainson , Zoological Illustra-
tions, 1st series, pi. cv. — Oiseau-mouclie a bee recourbe, Orais-
:u ya recurvirostris, Lesson, Histoire Nalurelle des Oiseattx-
mouches, pi. xxxvii. p. 129, and Supplement, pi. xxxiv. p. 1G6.

It has been asserted by some ornithologists, that
the curvature of the bill in these birds was an acci-
dental formation, or received in transportation, from
the position in which the specimen was laid. This
was maintained as long as Mr Swainson’s specimen
was the only one generally known ; but we have al-
ready mentioned two with the same formation, and
Lesson says, that he has seen six or seven individuals
having the upward bend; there can be no doubt,
therefore, that it is a peculiarity of structure which
will have its use in the economy of the species.

The specimen used for this figure, had not quite
attained the complete plumage. The length was
about three inches and three lines, that of the bill
about nine lines; the latter is black, strong, much
bent, and ending in a fine depressed point. The

PLATE 3.

TROCHILUS RE CURVIROSTRIS.
( Recurved- billed. HummingBird.)

Native of Peru.

Lizars sc.

RECURVED-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD.

125

dorsal surface of the upper mandible is straight, and
becomes at once curved. The upper part of the body,
from the forehead to the tail-coverts, is of a bluish
green, with metallic reflections ; the throat, forepart,
and sides of the neck, extending to the upper part of
the breast, are of a brilliant emerald green ; a grayish-
brown line crosses the middle of the belly, reaching to
the crissum, which is white. The flanks and under
tail-coverts are golden green, and the plumes covering
the thighs are whitish. The tail is composed of
feathers of unequal length, the outer ones being gra-
dually shorter than those in the middle. They are
golden green in the centre, bluish at the sides, and
above present a bronzed reddish tinge. The wings
are blackish purple, and reach to the extremity of the
tail.

A comparison of the above description by Lesson,
and of what follows from Swainson’s Illustrations,
with that of the former plate, will point out the dis-
tinctions between T. avocetta and T. recurvirostris.

Mr Swainson observes as follows : —

“ The extraordinary formation in the bill of this
beautiful little creature, is without parallel in any
land bird yet described, and presents in miniature
a striking resemblance to that of the avoset. It is
almost impossible to conjecture rightly the use of this
singular formation j but it appears to me not impro-
bable, that the principal sustenance of the bird may
be drawn from the pendant bignonacese, and other
similar plants, so common in South America, whose

126

RECURVEr -BILLED HUMMING-BIRD.

corolla; are long, and generally bent in their tube;
the nectar being at the bottom, could not be reached
either by a straight or a curved bill, though very easily
by one corresponding to the shape of the flower.

“ Bill black, depressed along the whole length, but
more especially at the tip, which is rounded, thin,
obtuse, and recurved in both mandibles, the under of
which, towards the middle, has a convex swelling,
which gives the recurvature a stronger appearance.
All the upper plumage and body beneath golden
green ; the throat to the breast shining with scale-like
feathers, of a vivid emerald green; from the breast
to the vent is a stripe of black down the middle;
thighs white ; tail even ; the two middle feathers dull
greenish blue, the rest above obscure coppery brown,
but beneath of a rich shining topaz colour.”

It was purchased at Bullock’s sale, and that gentle-
man received it from Peru.

TR0CH1LUS RT7FIGASTER
( Rufous bellied Humming Bird )
Native of Brazil.

- r

PLATE 4.

L ixars sc

/

-

127

RUFOUS-BELLIED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus rufiyaster Vieillot.

Plate IV. Male.

Colibri a ventre roussatre, Temminck , Planches Coloriees, pi.
cxx. fig. 2, female. — Lc Colibri a ventre roux, Lesson Ilistoire
Naturelle des Colibris , pi. ix. male.

According to the work of M. Lesson, perhaps at
present the best authority for the distinction of species
in this beautiful tribe, this bird is not identical with
the Trochilus Brasiliensis of Dr Latham ; and it has
also been confused with some states of the “ Brin
blanc,” T. super ciliosus, and with the T. squalidus
of Temminck and Natterer, though we should have
thought the difference of size presented by the former,
sufficient to distinguish it. We give the description
of Lesson, which accompanies the copy used for our
plate. The entire length is scarcely three inches, of
which the bill will make about eleven lines ; that
member is lengthened, slender and bending, yellow at
the base, and blackish towards the tip ; the head,
upper part of the neck, and back, are of a bronzed
green, which passes into a rich cinnamon colour upon
the rump ; the wings small and narrow, of a brownish

128

RUFOUS-BELLIEI) HUMMING-BIRD.

purple ; the throat is whitish ; the sides of the neck,
breast, belly, and flanks, of a soft shining rufous
colour. A narrow line borders the auriculars, and a
blackish spot is seen in the middle of the throat ; the
tail is composed of narrow brown feathers, is wedge-
shaped, tipped with reddish. It is a native of Brasil.

PLATE 5

129

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus colubris. — Linnjeus.

Plate V.

Rod-throated Humming-bird, Edwards , Pennant , Latham

Trochilus colubris, Bonaparte — The Humming-bird, Wilson's
North American Ornithology , pi. x. figs. 3 and 4. — The
Ruby- throated Humming-bird, Audubon , Ornithological Bio-
graphy, pi. xlvii. vol. i. p. 248 — Northern Humming-Bird,
Northern Zoology, vol. ii. p. 323 — Le petit rubis de la Caroline,
Omismya colubris. Lesson , Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaua-
mouches , pis. Ixviii. bis , p. 151.

“ Where is the person, who, on seeing this lovely-
little creature moving on humming winglets through
the air, suspended as if by magic in it, flitting from
one flower to another, with motions as graceful as
they are light and airy, pursuing its course over our
extensive continent, and yielding new delights wher-
ever it is seen — where is the person, I ask of you, kind
reader, who, on observing this glittering fragment of
the rainbow, would not pause, admire, and instantly
turn his mind with reverence towards the Almighty
Creator, the wonders of whose hand we at every step
discover, and of whose sublime conceptions we every-
where observe the manifestations in his admirable

130

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

system of creation ? There breathes not such a person.”
It is in these words that the enthusiastic Audubon
commences the description accompanying his beautiful
illustration of these hardy little birds, and with the
answer, they are equally applicable to the whole of
this numerous family.

For the natural history of the Carolina or Northern
Humming-bird, we are principally indebted to the
observations of Alexander Wilson, and the ornitho-
logist just now quoted ; and their descriptions, taken
from reality, being superior to any thing we could
supply, the greater part of them will be now used.
We remarked in the Introduction, that the humming-
birds, with two exceptions, were wanting to the northern
continent of America, being apparently unable, from
their delicate structure, to bear the severities of ahardier
climate, and where the limited supply of the gorgeous
plants, and their inhabitants, which form so prominent
a feature in the forests of the southern division, would
afford a scantier nourishment. Our present species is
one of the most hardy, and bears a range of tempera-
ture almost from Tropical heat to the rigour of an
Arctic latitude, having been lately observed as far
north as the plains of the Saskachewan, and the banks
of Elk River. It is only during summer that an ex-
cursion of such distance is made, and we find their
arrival, during migration, occurring at different periods,
in various parts of the Canadas and United States.
“ About the 25th of April,” we learn from the Ameri-
can Ornithology, “ the humming-bird usually arrives

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

131

in Pennsylvania ; and about the 10th of May, begins
to build its nest. In the Savanna in Georgia, it
appears from the south about the 23d of March, two
weeks earlier than it does sixty miles higher up the
country.

“ The nest is generally fixed on the upper side of
a horizontal branch, not among the twigs, but on the
body of the branch itself. Yet I have known in-
stances where it was attached by the side to an old
moss-grown trunk ; and others where it was fastened
on a strong rank stalk, or weed, in the garden ; but
these cases are rare. In the woods it very often chooses
a white oak sapling to build on ; and in the orchard or
garden, selects a pear-tree for that purpose ; the
branch is seldom more than ten feet from the ground.
The nest is about an inch in diameter, and as much
in depth ; the outward coat is formed of small pieces
of a species of bluish-gray lichen, that vegetates on
old trees and fences, thickly glued over with the saliva
of the bird, giving firmness and consistency to the
whole, as well as keeping out moisture ; within this
are thick matted layers of the fine wings of certain
flying seeds, closely laid together; and lastly, the
downy substance from the great mullein, and from
stalks of the common fern, lines the whole. The base of
the nest is continued round the stem of the branch, to
which it closely adheres ; and when viewed from below,
appears a mere mossy knot, or accidental protuberance.
The eggs are two, pure white, and of equal thickness
on both sides. On a person approaching their nest,

132

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

the little proprietors dart around with a humming
sound. The precise period of incubation I am unable
to give ; but the young are in the habit, a short time
before they leave the nest, of thrusting their bills into
the mouths of their parents, and sucking what they
have brought them. As I have found their nests
with eggs so late as the 12th July, I do not doubt but
that they frequently, and perhaps usually, raise two
broods in the same season.

“ Their only note is a single chirp, not louder than
that of a small cricket or grashopper, generally uttered
while hovering from flower to flower, or when engaged
in a fight with his fellows ; for when two males meet
at the same bush or flowers, a battle instantly takes
place ; and the combatants ascend in the air chirping,
darting, and circling around each other, till the eye is
no longer able to follow them. The conqueror, how-
ever, generally returns to the place to reap the fruits
of his victory. I have seen them attack, and for a few
moments tease the king-bird ; and have also seen him,
in his turn, assaulted by a humble bee, which he soon
put to flight.

“ The singularity of this little bird has induced
many persons to attempt to raise them from the nest,
and accustom them to the cage. Mr Coffer of Fair-
fax, county Virginia, raised and kept two for some
months in a cage, supplying them with honey dis-
solved in water, on which they readily fed. As the
sweetness of the liquid frequently brought small flies
and gnats about the cage, the birds snapped and

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

133

swallowed them with eagerness, so that these insects
formed no inconsiderable part of their food.” And
in the summer of 1 803, Wilson himself succeeded in
raising and keeping some young ones for nearly three
months, and might have extended the period, had
they not been injured by flying about the room. He
thus relates the circumstance : — “ In the summer of
1803, a nest of young humming-birds was brought
me, that were nearly fit to fly. One of them actually
flew out by the window the same evening and falling
against a wall, was killed. The other refused food, and
the next morning I could but just perceive that it had
life. A lady of the house undertook to be its nurse,
placed it in her bosom, and as it began to revive, dis-
solved a little sugar in her mouth, into which she
thrust its bill, and it sucked with great avidity, and
in this manner it was brought up until fit for the cage.
I kept it upwards of three months, supplied it with
loaf-sugar dissolved in water, which it preferred to
honey and water, gave it fresh flowers every morning
sprinkled with the liquid, and surrounded the space in
which I kept it with gauze, that it might not injure
itself. It appeared gay, active, and full of spirit,
hovering from flower to flower, as if in its native wilds,
and always expressed, by its motions and chirping,
great pleasure at seeing fresh flowers introduced into
its cage.

“ This little bird is extremely susceptible of cold,
and if long deprived of the animating influence of the

134

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

sunbeams, droops and soon dies. A very beautiful
male was brought me this season (1809,) which I put
into a wire cage, and placed in a retired shaded part
of the room. After fluttering about for some time,
the weather being uncommonly cool, it clung to the
wires, and hung in a seemingly torpid state for a
• whole forenoon. No motion whatever of the lungs
could be perceived, on the closest inspection ; though
at other times this is remarkably observable ; the eyes
were shut, and when touched by the- finger, it gave
no signs of life or motion. I carried it out to the open
air, and placed it directly in the rays of the sun, in a
sheltered situation. In a few seconds, respiration
became very apparent ; the bird breathed faster and
faster, opened its eyes, and began to look about, with
as much seeming vivacity as ever. After it had com-
pletely recovered, I restored it to liberty ; and it flew
off to the withered top of a pear-tree, where it sat for
some time dressing its disordered plumage, and then
shot off like a meteor.

“ The flight of the humming-bird from flower to
flower, greatly resembles that of a bee ; but is so much
more rapid, that the latter appears a mere loiterer to
him. He poises himself on the wing, while he thrusts
his long slender tubular tongue into the' flowers in
search of food.” And Mr Audubon adds, “ during
their migration they pass in long undulations. I have
not, however, been able to assure myself whether they
migrate during the day or by night, but am inclined

NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

135

to think the latter the case, as they seem to he busily
feeding at all times of the day, which would not be the
case, had they long flights to perform at that period.”
This humming-bird has generally been supposed
to live only on Jioney or liquid sweets, but Wilson
observes, “ I can speak decisively on this subject,
having seen the humming-bird for half an hour at a
time darting after those little groups of bisects that
dance in the air in a fine summer’s evening, retiring
to an adjoining twig to rest, and renewing the attack
with a dexterity that sets all our other fly -catchers at
defiance. It is well known that they are particularly
fond of tubular flowers, where numerous small insects
resort, and there is every reason for believing that
they are as often in search of these insects as of honey,
and that the former compose at least as great a portion
of their usual sustenance as the latter.”

The Northern Humming-bird is three inches and
a half in length, and four and a quarter in extent ; the
whole back, upper part of the neck, sides, under the
wings, tail-coverts, and two middle feathers of the
tail, are of a rich golden green ; the tail and wings
are deep brownish purple ; the sides of the belly, and
belly itself, dusky white, mixed with green. But
what constitutes the chief ornament of this little bbd,
is the splendour of the feathers of his throat, which,
when placed in a proper position, glow with all the
brilliancy of the ruby. These feathers are of singular
strength and texture, lying close together like scales,
and vary, when moved before the eye, from a deep

136

NOBTHERN HUMMING-BIRD.

black to a fiery crimson and a burning orange. The
female is destitute of this ornament, which is white,
with all the other under parts, and the tip of the tail
feathers. The young birds have the under parts
brownish white, and are somewhat lighter in the
under parts. The males begin to acquire the red
feathers on the throat about autumn, but they are not
complete before the following season.

The same ornithologist, to whom we have been so
much indebted for the history of this bird, has also
made it the subject of a poem, which we cannot now
omit.

“ When morning dawns, and the bless’d sun again
Lifts his red glories from the eastern main,

Thon round our woodbines, wet with glittering dews,

The flower-fed humming-bird his round pursues ;

Sips with inserted tube the honied blooms,

And chirps his gratitude as round he roams ;

While richest rosea, though in ciimson dress’d,

Shrink from the splendour of his gorgeous breast.

What heavenly tints in mingled radiance fly !

Each rapid movement gives a different die ;

Like scales of burnish’d gold they dazzling show.

Now sink to shade — now like a furnace glow ! ”

137

DUTCHESS OF RIVOLI’S HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus Anna Lesson.

Plate VI.

Oiscau-mouclic Anna, Ornismya Anna, Lesson , Histoire Wdtii~
relle des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. lxxiv.

This very beautiful species is said by M. Lesson to
be entirely new and unfigured, and he has dedicated it
to the Dutchess of Rivoli, (using her Christian name,)
whom, with her husband, he has extolled as enthusias-
tic naturalists. It was discovered in California, by
Dr Botta, and introduced in 1829 to the Paris collec-
tions, but without any notice of its habits.

This bird is about three inches and five lines in
length. The wings, equaling the length of the tail,
are of a purplish brown. The tail, very slightly forked,
is brown, except the centre feathers, which are green,
with metallic lustre. But the most marked feature
in the colouring of the plumage is a cowl, of the richest
changeable amethystine red, which covers the upper
part of the head, and with a more purplish tinge sur-
rounds the eyes, covering the cheeks, and continued

VOL. VI. T

138 DUTCHESS Oi RIVOLl’s HUMMING-BIRD.

upon the throat and forepart of the neck lengthways
on each side. The feathers composing this part, as in
the greater number of other species, present the scaly
form, and to the touch feel soft like velvet. The
upper parts of the neck, back, rump, and lesser wing-
coverts, are bright golden green ; the forepart of the
throat, and lower parts, are greenish, mingled with
gray, becoming whitish as they approach the tail.

The young birds have the upper parts of a duller
tinge, beneath gray, and the scaly patch is much less
brilliant, and loses the scaly texture of the feathers.

V"

PLATE 7

TRO C IIILI’S CYANEUS.

( Blue-^reen Humming-Bird, j
Satire of Brazil.

Ziznrs sc.

139

BLUE-GREEN HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus cyaneus. — Vi rillot.

Plate VII.

Oiseau-mouclie verazur, Omismya cyanca, Lesson , Ilistoirs
Nalurelle des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. lxxi. p. 199.

This species was discovered in Brasil, by MM.
Langsdorfl' and Delalande, and, according to Lesson,
was first described by Vieillot, in 1818. It is of
small size, being scarcely three inches in length, in-
cluding the bill and tail. The bill is of a clear yellow,
brownish at the tip, slightly dilated at the base ; the
crown is of a dull green, changing with the light to
a pure and brilliant blue ; the throat is a mixture of
grayish and rich ultramarine blue, according to the
position, and in the centre has the plumes of a scaly
form and of a brighter hue ; the neck, back, and lesser
wing-coverts, are of a golden green ; the rump and
tail-coverts green, with reddish or bronze reflections ;
the wings, equal in length to the tail, are narrow,
and of a purplish black ; the tail is slightly forked,
and of a uniform steel blue ; the breast green, or clear
blue, according to the position, changing to brownish

140

BLUE-GREEN HUMMING-BIRD.

green on the belly ; the vent is white, and forms a
distinct mark between the green of the belly and
brown of the under tail-coverts. The young have
the blue of the throat less clear, and the under parts
more mingled with gray ; the bill is also brown, where
it is yellow in the adults.

The female has not been discovered.

* /

PLATE 8

TROCHILU'S PRAS1NA

( Golden- green Humming Bird J
"Native of Brazil

141

GOLDEN-GREEN HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus prasina Lesson.

Plate VIII.

L’Orvert, Oraismya prasina. Lesson , ffistoirc Naturelle das
Oiseaux-mouches , pi. lxv.

Lesson considers the species to which he has given
the name of prasina distinct from T. viridissinius of
modem authors, but identical with the T. viridissimus
of Linnaeus and Latham. It is a native of Brasil,
and certainly yet very little known in collections.

The entire length of this beautiful little bird is
about two inches and eight lines, of which the bill
makes up seven lines, and the form is in general de-
licate. The whole plumage, excepting the vent, is
of a very deep golden green, but with a clear brilliant
and changing lustre, occasionally of a bluish tint ; the
plumes on the forehead, and breast, presenting the
greatest brightness, and assuming the scaly form.
The vent is whitish ; the wings are brownish purple,
of a narrow form, and firm texture ; the tail dull
indigo blue, broad, and slightly rounded. The plumage
of the young birds, and the female of this species seem

1 12 GOLDEN-GREEN HUMMING-BIRD.

yet imperfectly known. Dr Latham, under his T.
virdissimus, mentions three varieties, one of them
having the under parts from the chin to the vent
white, the others not materially differing.

V

PLATE 9

TROCHILUS QUADRIC 01. OR
(Azure rrowned Hummmji, Bird )

f.h.irs jV.

143

AZURK-CROWNHD HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus quadricolor Vi eillot.

Plate IX.

Trochilus quadricolor, Vieillot.- — Oiscau-mouchc a tetc dV.ur,
Oraismya cyanoccphala, Lesson , Histoire Naturclle ties
Oiseaux-mouches. Supplement , pis. xvii. and xviii.

This very beautiful species has been described b s -
Vieillot by the name ive have adopted, as that of its
prior describer; and although perhaps not quite so
applicable as that given by Lesson, it should be
adopted. We are at a loss to understand why that
ornithologist has introduced so many changes of no-
menclature in his beautiful monograph.

An inspection of the plate will show a difference
of fonn from any of those previously described ; and
it is probable that this species will form the type, or
a very marked individual, in one of the subdivisions.
The total length is nearly four inches ; the bill is
straight, rather enlarged at the base, and of a clear
yellow, except the tip, which is black ; the tarsi
are very short ; a patch, or cowl, of brilliant blue,
covers the crown, extending to the occiput, from the

114

AZURE-CROWNED HUMMING-BIRD.

rictus, in a line beneath the eyes. The upper parts
of the body are of a brilliant golden green, and the
under parts of a chaste and clear white ; the wings
are large, equaling the tail in length, and of a pur-
plish brown ; and the tail is composed of broad and
strong feathers. In the birds of one year, the upper
parts assume a grayer tinge ; and below, the white is
less pure, becoming browner on the flanks and vent.
The bill also wants its clearness, and the beautiful
azure crown only begins to appear as age advances.
The species has yet been only brought from Brasil.

-

. *

'

PLATE 10.

' 1 1 -’in,

TR0CH1LUS DELALANDLI.

'b

( DeLalande's Humming Bird.)
Native of tlie Rio.Gramle.

ifj.tr/ A'

145

DELALANDE'S HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus Delalandii.— X ikillot.

Plate X.

Trochilus Delalandii, Vieillot , Dictionnaire d'Histoirc Na-
turelle ; Temminck , Planches Coloriees , pi. xviii. figs. 1, 2.
— Le Plumet bleu Omismya Delalandii, Lesson , Ilisloire
Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. xxiii. male; pi. xxiv.
female.

This remarkable humming-bird was discovered in
Brasil by MM. Delalande and Menetrier, and has
been dedicated by Vieillot to the first of these natu-
ralists. The crown of the male is adorned with a
beautiful crest, composed of short feathers, with ge-
nerally one narrow and elongated, which rises in the
centre to an inch in length ; it is of a rich and deep
blue, tipped with white, and appears very graceful,
either when erected, or reclining and folded at rest.
Behind the eye, upon the auriculars, there is a small,
nearly circular patch of clear white, which forms a
conspicuous object. The forepart of the throat, breast,
and belly, are rich azure blue, surrounded with gray ;
the head, back, flanks, and wing coverts, bright and

146

delalande’s humming- uird.

shining green ; the vent and flanks are gray ; the
wings are brownish purple ; the centre feathers of the
tail of the colour of the upper parts ; the remaining
feathers are dull blue, and the outer feathers have a
conspicuous -spot of clear white at the extremities.

The female is nearly of the same size with the
male, but wants the beautiful crest ; the upper parts
are of a golden green, but less shining, and the under
parts, instead of the fine azure, are of a clear gray.
The white auriculars and spots on the outer tail
feathers are, however nearly as conspicuous as in
the other sex.

From this species, and another lately discovered,
having the lengthened crest of a lilac colour, Mr
Lodiges proposes to form a genus Cephalepis. The
lilac-crested bird is from the Rio Grande, and has
been dedicated to Mr Lodiges.

PLATE 11

TROCHILUS MOSCHITUS

(Ruby-crested Humming-Bird )
Native of the Ye st Indialslands.

Zitars sc.

147

RUBY-CHESTED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochiius mosch itus Linn* us.

Plate XI.

Trocliilus moschitus, Linnaeus ; Gmelin , 494 Ruby-crested

Humming-bird, Edwards' Gleanings , pi. cccxliv. ; Latham ,
General History of Birds , vol. iv. p. 330. — Lc Rubis Topaz,
Omismya mosclnta. Lesson , Ilistoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-
mouches , pis. lii. liii. liv. p. 1GG.

This common, but beautiful species, presents per-
haps some of the most splendid colouring of any of
the family. The upper part of the head and throat
are clothed entirely with the scaly-formed feathers,
which always compose the parts producing the change-
able colours. On the hind^iead the feathers are elon-
gated, and form a short rounded crest. In one posi-
tion, this part appears of a deep sombre reddish brown ;
when viewed transversely, it assumes a bright cop-
pery lustre ; and when looked upon directly, with a
side stream of light, it becomes of the richest and
most brilliant ruby red. The scaly part of the throat
and breast again, when wanting the lustre, is of an
equally sombre greenish brown ; and when held in
different lights, changes from a clear golden green to

148

KUBY -CRESTED HUMMING-B1KK.

the most brilliant topaz yellow. It is impossible to
convey by words the idea of these tints ; and having
mentioned those substances to which they approach
nearest, imagination must be left to conceive the
rest. The other parts of this bird are darkly coloured ;
the back and rump, breast and belly, are a rich
brown, with scarcely any variation of colour, and the
vent is pure white. The wings are of the purplish
brown, so common in this part to the whole species ;
and the tail, broad and expansive, is a fine reddish
brown, with a narrow band of a dark shade at the
tip. The length is about three inches and a half.
In some species the colour of the back is so dark
around the ruby crest, as almost to appear a black
band.

In the birds of one year, the scaly parts on the
head and throat are of a brownish gray, a few of the
bright feathsrs here and there appearing, and the
other parts of the plumage have generally a lighter
tinge. In another specimen which we possess, appa-
rently that of a still younger male, the upper parts
are of a grayish brown, with rather conspicuous
golden green reflections, the under parts of a clear
grayish white, darker on the throat and forepart of
the breast, and the quills want the purplish lustre.

The female differs considerably from the male. It
is scarcely three inches in length; above, it is of a
brilliant golden green ; the under parts of a clear
grayish brown. But the tail shows the greatest dif-
ference in markings ; the two centre feathers are a

RUBY-CRESTED HUMMING-BUKD.

149

bronzed green ; the base of the others are of the same
rufous colour with that of the male ; next there is a
band of bronzed green, nearly equal in breadth with
the reddish colour, and this again is succeeded by a
white conspicuous tip to each feather.

The nest is remarkable for warmth and compact-
ness ; the sides being formed almost entirely of cot-
tony substances, and only on the outside patched with
the leaves of lichens.

In distribution this species seems to have a wide
range, is common in most of the West India islands,
besides many parts of the southern continent.

150

. VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus sephanoides. — Lesson and Gaiinot.

Plate XII.

Oithorhynclius sephanoides, Lesson el Gurnot, Zoologie de la
Coquilc, pi. xxxi. fig. 2. — L’Oiseau-mouchc a Couronne
Violctto, Oraismya sephanoides, Lesson, Histoire Naturelle
des Oiseaux-mouches, pi. xiv. p. 69.

Lesson, in his synopsis of this family, has intro-
duced as a synonyme to the violet-crowned humming-
birds, Melisuga Kingii of Vigors, described by that
gentleman in the Zoological Journal; but in the
monograph of the former naturalist no mention is
made of the strongly acuminated tail feathers, which
are mentioned as so distinguishing a mark by both
Captain King and Mr Vigors ; we have therefore for
the present omitted it, until we have better grounds
for the conjunction. We presume Lesson has not
compared his specimens with those brought home by
Captain King.

The discovery of the species, we believe, is due to
MM. Lesson and Garnot, who met with it during the
voyage of the Coquile, and have described and figured

*

t

*

T ROC H ILFS SEPHANOIDES /Native of Chili.

VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMING-BIRD.

151

it in the splendid volume devoted to the natural history
of that expedition.

It inhabits Chili, and was met with in the woods
surrounding the Bay of Conception, near Talcaguano.
They were generally found at mid-day, enjoying the
flowers of a scarlet loranthus, which abounded in a
honied juice. It was in that district a bird of passage,
retiring north during winter.

This species is about four inches in length, and in
form is stronger than many of its congeners, and the
shafts of the quills are of more than ordinary strength.
The crown is adorned with violet plumes, forming a
sort of cowl, lengthened towards the occiput. The
upper parts of the body are of a golden green, which
also tinges the wings and tail. The throat is white,
the plumage composed of scaly feathers, each marked
in the centre with an oval brownish spot ; the breast
and belly are reddish white ; the tail and. wings brown,
with violet reflections.

152

VIOLET-TUFTED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochitus petasophorus Neuwied.

Plate XIII.

Trocliilus petasophorus, Neuwied; and Temminck , Planches
Coloriees , ociii. fig. 3. — Oiseaux-inouches petasophore, Or.
nismya petasophora, Lesson , llistoire Naturelle des Oiseaui '•
mouches , pi. i. male.

The birds figured on this and the following plates,
present a curious feature in the tufts of feathers which
arise from the sides of the neck, but in other respects
show a close alliance in fonn to some other straight-
billed birds, such as the T. squamosus and albicollis
of Temminck ; and that now described has the addi-
tional feature of having the bill serrated upon the
margins.

It is a native of Brasil, and was met with by both
Natterer and the Prince Maximilian of Neuwied.
The upper parts are of a golden green, and a soft
and brilliant tint of the same colour clothes the chin
and throat, changing to a duller shade upon the
breast, on the belly and vent having a slight tinge
of gray, while the under tail-coverts are of a pure
white.

1

\

V

PLATE 13.

T R O C H 1 L XT S PE T A 5 PH O K U S .
< Violet- tufted Hu mraing-Bircl )
Native of Brazil.

VIOLET-TUFTED HUMMING-BIRD.

153

The characteristic appearance, however, is the tufts
of rather stiff feathers which spring from under the
auriculars, and expand themselves upon the sides of
the neck. They are of a purplish or violet tint, but
in many lights assume that of a golden green.

Specimens have yet been only received from Brasil,
and the female has not been discovered.

VOL. VI.

K

J54

NATTERER’S HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus scutatus Natterer.

Plate XIV.

Oiseau-mouche £cussonnd, Trocliilus scutatus, Natterer ; Tem -

minck, Planches Coloriees, ccxcix. fig. 3 Le Natterer, Or-

nismya Nattererii, Lesson, llistoire Naturelle des Oiseaux
mouches, pi. xvi. p. 75.

The first specimens of this remarkable humming-
bird were sent to Europe from the interior of Brasil
by M. Natterer and M. Auguste de St Hilaire.

The most remarkable feature in the plumage of
this bird, is two thick, and almost downy tufts, of
very deep indigo blue, which spring from under the
eyes, and form a sort of ruff upon the sides of the
neck, and which Lesson thinks appear only during
the breeding season, as in the ruff, {Tringa pugnax,
Linn.) If this is the case, do the ear tufts, and fea-
thery appendages incident to so many of the family,
appear only at this season, and disappear again when
a quieter time succeeds ? Each tuft is tipped with
yellow, which relieves them, when hanging upon the
same deep indigo which covers the upper part of the

P LATE M-.

TROCHILUS SC U TAT US
( Natterers Humming- Bird
Native of Brazil.

Luars sc.

natterer’s homming-bird.

155

breast and belly. The forehead is clothed with bright
green and scaly feathers, and is separated from the
golden but duller green of the hind head and upper
parts by a bandelet of deep velvety black, which runs
over the head in a line with and from eye to eye.
The throat and front of the neck is shining green, and
the feathers, lengthened and narrow, form a beautiful
gorget displayed upon the dark indigo of the breast.
The vent and under tail-coverts are dirty white. The
tail is equal at the end, and, like those of this form,
has the feathers broad and expanded ; it is of a me-
tallic green colour — of an equal brilliancy above and
beneath.

Lesson has changed Natterer’s name to that of the
discoverer himself ; but, independent of priority, when
not entirely inappropriate it cannot be a compliment
to change the name given by the discoverer, even
when substituted by his own ; we have therefore
retained it.

156

THE TUFTED-NECKED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus ornatus. — Linnjeus ?

Plate XV. Adult Male.

Le Hupp6-col, Buffon, Planches Enluminies , 640. — ^Tufted-
necked Humming-bird, Latham's General History of Birds,
vol. iv. p. 348. — Le Hupp^-col, Ornismya omata. Lesson ,
Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. xli.

Among the curious forms assumed by the plumage
of the humming-birds, we have already seen various
feathered excrescences, as it were, issuing from differ-
ent parts of the body, and in none are they so singu-
lar as in the tribe which our present species and one
or two following represent. They are called by the
French, Coquets ; and Lesson has formed from them
a genus, Lophornis, including this with the three fol-
lowing and some other species. In this bird, in addi-
tion to an ample crest of clear reddish chestnut upon
the head, the sides of the neck are adorned with tufts
of narrow feathers, almost an inch in length. They
are composed of from ten to twenty plumes, of the
same colour with the crest, and are terminated with

TR O C HILU S OO A T U S , U ide .

y TbeTufted necked Humming -Bird.)
Native of C avenue

THE TUFTED-NECKED HUMMING-BIBD. 157

a broadened tip of clear shining green.* The throat,
and upper part of the breast, with the forehead, bor-
dering the rufous crest, is covered with bright emerald-
green scaly feathers, which are separated from the
upper parts by a line of a paler shade running through
the eyes to the rictus, and from the lower part of the
breast and belly, by a band of rufous of the same tint
with the crest. The upper parts are of a bronzed
green, with steel-blue reflections ; and this is again
separated from the tail by a conspicuous band of gray-
ish white. The tail is broad and ample ; the centre
feathers greenish — the others deep chestnut red, with
purplish reflections.

Cayenne, Guiana, and Brasil, are the countries
where this species is most abundant ; and the Prince
Maximilian mentions having found them on dry and
arid plains, clothed with a scanty and bushy vegeta-
tion.

* The number of feathers in these tufts is said to be generally
from twelve to fourteen, but Dr Latham mentions having counted
eighteen in one specimen and twenty in another.

158

THE TUFTED-NECKED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus ornatus Linnajus.

Plate XVI. Female.

The female is in general rather less in size, and
wants the crest and neck tufts, but the other parts of the
plumage hardly fail in brilliancy to those of the male,
represented on our last plate. The under parts are of
a redder tinge, where the white predominates in the
male, and the band on the rump is not so clearly de-
fined.

PLATE 16

TROCHILUS ORNATUS, Female.

( The Tufted- necked Humming -Bird.)
Native of Cayenne.

PLATE 17.

TR0CH1LUS AUDENETII .

( Aude net's Humming-Bird.)
Native of Peru.

Zuars sc

159

AUDENET’S HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus Audenetii — Lesson.

Plate XVII.

L’Oiseau-mouche Audenet, Oraismya Audenetii, Lesson , His-
tone Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches , Supplement , pi. ii. p.
102 .

This fine species was first described and figured
in Lesson’s Monograph, and will range in the division
with T. ornatas and magnificus, having like them a
slender form, a broadly expanded tail, and a neck
adornment of narrow lengthened plumulets. M. Les-
son observes, “ Of this rare and valuable species, we
know only a single specimen, which was communi-
cated to us by M. Verreau, and now forms part of
the collection of M. Audenet in Paris, and, without
doubt, is one of the most remarkable for its elegance,
its rich clothing, its light and airy form, and the deli-
cate plumes which adorn its neck."

It is scarcely three inches long ; the wings small,
narrow, and falciform, scarcely reaching beyond the
middle of the tail. The feathers on the crown are
thick, loose, and slightly elongated, and with the back

160

aubenet’s humming-bibd.

and wing-coverts are bright emerald green. A band
of black, bordered on each side with white, crosses
the rump, and the tail is of a clear blackish blue.
The throat and forepart of the neck are clothed with
small scaly feathers, having a rich green lustre, from
each side of which springs a thick tuft of narrow
rounded feathers, of a bright emerald green, and
marked on the tip of each with a round white spot.
The feathers on the lower parts of the body are of a
rounded and scaly form, brownish black at the base,
and yellowish at the tips, giving a waved appearance
to the whole.

The specimen of T. Audenetii, as far as could be
traced by its describers, was brought from Peru.

V

! >

>

Native of Brazil.

Lnars sc.

jr \

TROCHILUS CllAI.YHKt'S ‘
( Vieilloi'a Humming-Bird,)

161

VIEILLOT’S HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus chalybeus . — Vieillot.

Plate XVIII.

Trochilus chalyhcus, Vieillot; Temminck , Planches Coloriees ,
lx. fig. 2. — Oiscau-raouche Vieillot, Onusmya Vieillotii, Les-
son, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-monches, pi. lxiv. p. 1 86.

This elegant humming-bird was first described by
M. Vieillot in 1823 ; Temminck gave a very good
representation of it in his PI. Coloriees, and it has
recently been figured in the splendid publication of
M. Lesson, who has dedicated it to Vieillot, an
eminent and laborious ornithologist. We have pre-
ferred retaining the name given by its discoverer.

It is about three inches in length, and of a light
and graceful form ; the sides of the neck are adorned
with two bundles of green lengthened fan-shaped
feathers, having a round white spot at the extremity
of each. The forehead and cheeks are brilliant green,
and a line of black runs from the bill to the occiput ;
the back and upper parts of the body are green, with
yellowish reflections ; the sides and forepart of the

162

VIEILL0T S HUMMING-BIRD.

neck are tinged with blue* and longitudinally spotted
with grayish black ; the other lower parts are gray,
waved and mottled with black, and a white band
crosses the lower part of the belly, and is seen upon
the rump. The quills are of a purplish brown, and
the tail, nearly equal at the extremity, is of a rich
sienna red.

The female, and birds of young plumage, have been
figured in Lesson’s Continuation ; the former is there
described for the first time. It entirely wants the
ear tufts, and is of a plain and unobtrusive dress.
The upper parts, from the rictus in a line below the
eyes, of a uniform golden green, interrupted by the
reddish tail-coverts and their white crossing band ;
the under parts gray ; greenish on the flanks.

Vieillot’s Humming-bird is a native of Brasil, and
is very rare in collections.

* See vignette to vol. ii. for a figure of a male in very perfect
adult plumage.

PLATE 19.

Luars sc.

TROCHILUS MAGNIF1CUS. Young- Male.

( Magnificent Humming Bird. )

Native of Brazil.

163

MAGNIFICENT HUMMING-BIRD
Trochilus magnificus. — Vieillot.

Plate XIX. Young Male.

Trochilus magnificus, Oiseau-mouche magnifique, Vieillot , Dio.
tionnaire des Sciences Naturelles (1817 and 1818); Tem~
minck's Planches Coloriees , ccxcix. fig. 2. — Le Hausse-col
blanc, Omismya strumaria, Lesson , Histoire Naturelle des
Oiseaux-mouches , pi. xlii. and xliii. p. 143.

We have given plates of the young male and female
of this species, as being less known than the bird in
the adult state, and though presenting plumage of
less splendour, it is perhaps more chaste and pleasing.
It also ranges with the form represented by T. ornatus
and its allies, and the adult male has the neck adorned
with beautiful plumulets of snowy white, relieved by
a black or very dark olive-green band on the tip of
each. These tufts are also so far different, that the
feathers are much shorter and broader, and scarcely
present so stiff an appearance as those of its congeners,
while the ruff extends nearly round like a gorget in
front. In the young males neither the crest nor ruff
appears ; the crown of the head is of a dull yellowish

164

MAGNIFICENT HUMMING-BIRD.

red, changing into a darker and grayer shade towards
the hind head, which runs in a line from the eye to
the shoulders ; the upper parts are of a rich green,
and are separated by the above-mentioned line from
the lower region of the body, which is of a grayish
white, tinged with rufous on the throat and breast,
and entirely devoid of the brilliant scaly plumes oc-
cupying the throat of the adult.

It is a native of Brasil.

f

>

/

/

♦

PLATE 20

J

165

MAGNIFICENT HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus magnificus Vieillot.

Plate XX. Female.

The plumage of the female is as unobtrusive as
that of the young male, figured on the preceding plate,
and it is only the adults that have any pretensions to
the name which Vieillot applied to them. The
female nearly equals the male in size, is destitute
entirely of the ruff, and does not even show the dark
line upon the sides of the neck, which indicates its
place in the young of the opposite sex. The fore-
head and throat are yellowish chestnut, and the breast
and lower parts are gray, delicately mottled with a
darker shade ; hind head and back are greenish gray,
which changes into a shade of clearer green upon the
sides and shoulders ; the wings are purplish brown,
and the tail is rufous, with the middle feathers, and a
cross central band, olive green.

166

DOUBLE-CRESTED HUMMING-BIRD.
Trochilus cornutus. — Neuwied.

Plate XXI. Male.

Trochilus cornutus, Neuwied Voyage au Brtsil. — Trochilus bilo-

phus, Temminck, Planches Coloriees, xviii. fig. 3 Oisean-

mouche aux Huppes d’or, Omismya chrysolopha. Lesson, His.
toire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches, pi. vii. p. 55.

The discovery of this most splendid species is due
to the Prince Maximilian de Wied-Neuwied, who
described it, in his'“ Voyage to Brasil," under the
name of T. cornutus, and furnished the specimens
from which M. Temminck made the drawings for his
PI. Coloriees. It inhabits the exalted Campos-Geraes
of Brasil, near the sources of the river Don Francisco.

This humming-bird is about four inches in length,
of which the tail alone measures nearly the half; the
bill and feet are remarkably slender, the former slightly
bent, terminating in a very fine point. The most
characteristic mark of this species is the two flattened
crests, composed of six feathers, which divide in front
of the head, on a level with the eyes, and are directed
forwards. Lesson, describing them, says, “ Ces deux

»

%-

.

( DniiLle-cresUnl Humming-Bird, ;
Native of Brazil.

DOUBLE-CRESTED HUMMING-BIRD. 167

huppes pouissent de l’eelat le plus extraordinaire;
elles etincellent avec le brillant de l’or et celui de cuivre
rouge : le reflets du rubis et ceux de l’emcraudes, le
rouge de feu, le vert le plus pur, le jaune le plus ecla-
tant, chatoient de maniere a eblouir les yeux, et sur-
passer la description qu’on chereherait a faire de ces
teintes si fugitives et si belles.”

The colours of these tufts, or horns, certainly baffle
description, and an idea can only be conveyed by
likening them to some familiar object, such as the
bright and changing hues of steel, and other metals,
or the sparkling tints of precious stones. The centre
of the forehead between the tuft is covered with scaly
feathers, of a brilliant green and blue reflections. A
gorget of deep and rich purple composed of lengthened
feathers, reaches from behind the eyes upon the breast ;
the breast and upper part of the belly is of the purest
white ; the same colour crosses the lower sides of the
neck, nearly meeting on the back, and forms a beauti-
ful contrast to the deep-coloured and delicately formed
feathers of the gorget. The belly and vent are of the
same green with the upper parts ; the wings are
brown ; the tail is strongly wedge-shaped ; the two
centre feathers brown ; the others pure white.

168

DOUBLE-CRESTED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus cornutus Nedwied.

Plate XXII. Female.

L'Oiseau-mouche aux Huppes d’or, Oraismya chrysolopha, Lesson
Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. viii. p. 55.

The female wants the splendid crests which adorn
the head of the male., but the other parts of her plu-
mage will scarcely yield in brilliancy. The crown is
rich ultramarine blue, and the dark gorget is distinctly
marked ; the tail is of equal length, and with the
nuchal collar and under parts are pure white; the
hind head, back, and shoulders, are bright golden
green ; the wings are purplish black.

*

T R 0 C 1 1 1 L V S COU N U T US. Keni a le . Native of Brazil .

\

A :

PLATE 23.

J5S\xvsx

TKOCHILUS FURCATUS.

(Violet Forked- tailed Humming-Bird '
Native of S. America.

169

VIOLET FORKED-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus furcatus. — Gmelin.

Plate XXIII.

Trochilus furcatus, Gmelin , xxvi. — L'Oiseau-inouclie a queue
fourchue, Buffon , Planches Enluminees, 672, tig. I.? — Lesser
forked-tailed Humming-Bird, Latham's General History ,

Variety B Oiscau-mouche violet a queue fourchue, Omismya

furcata. Lesson , Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches ,
pi. xviii. p. 82.

This species, one of the oldest known, is common in
many parts of South America, and possesses a con-
siderable geographical range, being found in Brasil and
Guiana, the island of Jamaica, and Cayenne. Not-
withstanding, the male only is known, and even the
plumage of the young is not accurately ascertained.

The bill, of considerable strength, is very slightly
bent, and of a deep black. The general state of this
bird is nearly that as figured by Buffon, golden green
above, with the wings and tail inclining to a violet
purple, a patch upon the throat of beautiful amethys-
tine purple, and the under parts pure white, tinged

VOL. VI.

L

170 VIOLET FORKED-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD.

with greenish on the flanks. Dr Latham describes
three states, and our present figure agrees with his
variety B, described from a specimen in the British
Museum.

-

T HOC III I. ITS VK S I’F. I( . Native ill Valparaiso.

171

THE EVENING HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus vesper. — Lesson.

Plate XXIV. Male.

L'Oiscau-mouche vesper, Omismya vesper. Lesson Hislotrt
Nalurelle des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. xix. p. 85 ; female, Les-
son's Continuation , pi. vi.

The present species has been figured by M. Lesson,
from specimens in the collection of the Jardin du Roi,
as different from the T. cyanopogon, to which it is
nearly allied, but differs much in size. The upper
parts are of a grayish green, of a more golden tinge on
the back and rump, but generally wanting the lustre
so prevalent in this race. The gorget is reddish violet,
with all its changes, and is surrounded on its lower
edge with a collar of grayish white. The breast and
belly are white, changing into gray on the flanks and
vent. The under tail-covertB are pure white.

The female has been also figured and described for
the first time in the continuation of M. Lesson’s Mono-
graph, which that ornithologist has again resumed ;
the under parts are entirely white, and there is no
trace of the brilliant gorget belonging to the male.

172 THE EVENING HUMMING-BIBD.

The Evening Humming-bird inhabits the neigh-
bourhood of Valparaiso, upon the naked and little-
wooded plains ; and the above quoted ornithologist
remarks, that the birds inhabiting these elevated,
almost mountainous plains, want the splendid lustre
to the upper plumage. Thus, T. corn is found in
Peru, T. cyanopogon in Mexico, and T. vesper in
Chili, all tinted as we have described.

<

'

>

PLATE 25.

TROCHILUS CORA.

( The Cora Humming-Bird .)
Native of Callao & Lima

/.tzars sc.

173

THE CORA HUMMING-BIRD.
Trochilus Cora. — Lesson and Gaiinot.

Plate XXV.

Orthoihynclius Cora, Lesson , Zoologie de la Coquille , p. 31.
fig. 4 — L'Oiseau-mouche Cora, Ornismya Cora, Lesson , His-
toire Naturelle dcs O'iseaux-mouches , pi. vi. p. 52.

The Cora Humming-bird was discovered in March
1823., by MM. Lesson and Gamot, the naturalists
who accompanied the Coquille in her exploratory voy-
age round the world, and a description and plate was
first published in the zoological volume illustrating the
novelties which occurred during it.

The Cora inhabits the sloping banks of the elevated
country lying between Callao and Lima, where the
surface is low and marshy, and large portions are
covered with salt, crystallized by the heat, on which
there is little vegetation, and where the foliage is of a
hue dull and glaucous. This splendid species is seen
constantly on the wing, and seldom alights upon any
of the blossoms.

The whole length of this little bird is about five
inches five lines, of which the tail makes three inches

174

THE CORA HUMMING-BIRD.

and tivo lines. The upper part of the head, back,
rump, and wing-coverts, are of a uniform brilliant
green ; the feathers of the throat, neck, and cheeks,
are of a bluish or steelly lustre, and have the form of
scales ; the remaining lower parts of the body are of a
dingy white, brownish on the flanks. The tail feathers
are white at the base of the inner webs, brownish on
the outer and towards the tips. The feet are reddish.

Lesson has again employed one of his favourite my-
thological names to denote this species. He says, the
specific name will recall one of the gods whom the
ancient Mexicans and Haytians adored.

PLATE 26.

T ROC HI L US DUPONT II.
( Dupont's Humming-Bird.)
Native of Mexico.

Lizurs sc.

DUPONT’S HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus Dupontii Lesson.

Plate XXVI.

L'Oiseau-mouche Zemfs, Ornismya Dupontii, Lesson , Svp.
plcment des Oiseaux-mouches , pi. i. p. 100.

Our plate is engraved from the representation of
Lesson, which is made from the only known specimen,
in possession of M. Dupont, to whom the species has
been dedicated.

It is a native of Mexico, has a sharp and pointed
bill, a lengthened tail, and a form comparatively
slender. The total length is about four inches and a
quarter, inclusive of the bill and tail. The upper
part of the plumage is of a shining yellowish green,
crossed upon the lower part of the back by a white
band ; a patch of black, or dark blue, according to
the light in which it is viewed, covers the throat,
cheeks, and middle of the neck. The flanks and
belly are a light brownish green, passing into pure
white on the vent. The wings are rather short, nar-
row, and falciform, of a brownish purple. The tail
is remarkable for the form of the exterior feathers.

170

dupont’s humming-bird.

■which are longest, and are expanded, or, as it were,
flattened towards the tips ; the inner feathers gradu-
ally decrease in length, are entirely broad, reddish at
the base, changing to a fawn colour, and tipped with
pure white.

1

177

HALF-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus enicurus Vieillot.

Plate XXVII.

Trochilus enicurus, Vieillot, Nouvelle Dictionnaire dHistoire
Naturelle. — Oiscau-mouche a queue singuliere, Temminck ,
Planches Colonels , pi. lxvi. fig. 3, Lesson , Ilistoire Natu-
relle des Oiseaux-monches , pi. xv. p. 72 Ornismya betera-

prgia, Lesson's Synopsis.

This humming-bird, remarkable in having only
six quills in the tail, was first figured by Temminck,
who remarks, “ we cannot doubt the existence of
this singular bird, as, besides that which I have
myself seen, M. Vieillot has assured me that he
has seen many others, ( plusieurs autres.) Bullock’s
museum possessed a specimen, Delalande another,
in no way differing from the specimen in the Baron
Laguier’s Collection.” The last-mentioned specimen
has served as a copy for both Temminck and Lesson,
which we have also used. There appears in all the
specimens to be no falling out or want of the feathers,
and it is a real anomaly among its numerous family.

178

HALF-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD.

Nevertheless, and without any disparagement to the
accuracy of these high authorities, we feel great curi-
osity to examine specimens of this bird. If the con-
struction of the tail proves as has been mentioned, it
will not only prove a singular tail among its own
large family, but will be the only known bird which
has only six tail feathers.

This little species is of a slender make ; above, of a
golden green, and the belly and vent are of the same
colours. The throat and upper part of the breast is
covered with a scaly patch of rich purple, and succeed-
ing this, bands of white and yellow fill up the space
between the gorget and green of the belly, stretching
over upon the back in a crescent form. The tail, as
we have mentioned, consists of six feathers of a pur-
plish brown, the outer pair very short, the others
lengthened, forming a fork of nearly two inches, almost
two-thirds of the length of the body, which widens, or
curves outward at the extremity.

Vieillot says that it inhabits Brasil, M. Temminck
the island of Trinite.

PLATE 28

179

SAPPHIRE-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus sapphirinus. — Linnsus.

Plate XXVIII.

Sapphire Humming-bird, Latham's General History, vol. iv. p.
326. — Oiseau-mouche Saphir, Omismya sappbirina. Lesson,
Ilistoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches, lv. lvi. and ItS.
p. 172.

The Sapphire-throated Humming-bird, or, as it is
sometimes called, “ the Sapphire,” is about three
inches and six lines in length. The bill is a clear
yellow, blackish towards the point ; the crown and
upper part of the body are bright golden green ; the
chin is of a clear reddish brown or rust colour, from
which, covering the throat, breast, and upper part of
the belly, extends the rich and beautiful blue that has
furnished the name to the bird ; it is composed of the
Bcaly-shaped feathers, and, in some lights, has a violet
lustre; the flanks and belly are brownish green,
changing to gray on the vent ; the tail is equal, and
entirely of a clear red. The female wants the rusty-
coloured chin, and is of a duller colour above. The
young is described by Yieillot, as of a blackish gray
underneath ; the red on the chin slightly apparent ;

1£0 SAPPHIRE-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD.

the hill of a brownish colour. They inhabit Guiana,
Cayenne, and Brasil, and, according to Dr Latham,
they are not very rare in the island of Berbice.

Native of Brazil.

. Zitat9st>.

18]

WHITE-EARED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus leucotis. — Vieillot.

Plate XXIX.

Trochilus leucotis, Vieillot 1 Vouvelle Dictionnaire THistoire

Naturelle Oiscau-mouche Arscnne, Omismva Arsennii,

Lesson, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mvuches, pi. ix.

p. 60.

Vieillot has described this species, in the New
Dictionary of Natural History, under the title of
“ Oiseau-mouclie a oreilles blanches,” ( Trochilus leu-
cotis ;) while Lesson has figured, and dedicated it, in
his Synopsis, to M. Arsenne, a rising French artist.
The latter name we have rejected, for obvious reasons.

The head is of a brownish violet colour, which is
insensibly shaded into the golden green which covers
the whole upper parts, and even the quills. A tinge
of azure blue shines upon the forehead, and is still
more brilliant on the cheeks and throat, and a gorget
of the clearest verdigris green covers the breast. A
spot of pure white arises behind each eye, and forms
a line of that colour above the auricular feathers ;
whence its name. The belly and flanks are grayish
green ; the vent and under tail-coverts pure white ;

182

WHITE-EARED HUMMING-BIRD.

the tail is nearly equal ; the feathers rounded, and
rather broader at the tips ; brown, except those in the
centre, which are of a similar shade with the upper
parts. The total length is about three inches.

It inhabits Brasil, and appears very rare. M.
Lesson remarks, that the only collection in Paris
where there is a specimen, is that of the I)uc de
Rivoli, where his drawing was taken, and from which
our plate is a copy.

/

PLATE 50 .

TROCHILUS MELLIVORUS.
' VAiite- collared Humming-Bird.)
Native of Surinam.

£ tzars sc .

183

W HITE-COLIiARED H UMMIN G-BIRD.

Trochilus mellivorus Linnjevs.

Plate XXX.

Trochilus mellivorus, Linnaeus, Systema Natures. — White-bellied
Humming-bird, Edwards's Birds, pi. xxxv. ; Latham's Gene-
ral History of Birds, vol.iv. p. 324 La Jacobine, Buffon,

Planches Enluminies, dcxl. ; — Lesson Histoire Naturelle
des Oiseause-mouches, pis. xxi. and xxii. p. 90.

This distinctly marked species may be met with
in almost every collection, and is one of the oldest
known. The changes from the young to the adult
plumage are considerable, which has occasioned its
description under more than one name. The plumage
of the adult male is a very deep and fine blue on the
crown, cheeks, throat, and upper part of the breast ;
the back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and shoulders,
golden green, marked on the back of the neck with
a crescent-shaped spot of the purest white ; the belly
and vent pure white ; the tail, of very broad feathers,
white, each tipped with black, and narrowly lined
with the same colour on the outer margins.

Lesson has figured the female as golden green above,
including the centre tail feathers, and basal half of the

184

WHITE-COLLARED HUMMING-BIRD.

others; the remaining part of the tail, which is of the
same form as in the male, is narrowly tipped with
white, succeeded by a band of rich blue, the outer web
of the outer feathers being the only other white portion.
The under parts are gray ; the feathers on the throat
assuming the scaly texture, and marked in the centre
of each with a darker colour. The same naturalist
mentions a specimen in the Paris Museum, with the
centre tail feathers black ; and a specimen, in our own
possession, has the tips of the tail feathers black for
nearly half an inch- These may perhaps agree with
Latham’s spotted- necked humming-bird, Trockttus
fimbriatus. We are almost inclined to think, that the
white of the tail becomes perfect as they advance in
age, like the same colour in many other birds.

It has been found in Cayenne and Surinam, and
several of the West Indian Islands. The specimens
which served for the accompanying plate, are from
Tobago, where it is said to be found chiefly in low
marshy situations, among the plantain bushes, in
company with the sabre-wing, feeding constantly on
the wing.

3

PLATE 31.

TROCHILUS MULTIC OLOR.

( Harlequin Humming-Bird.)

Habital Unknown.

Lizars sc.

185

HARLEQUIN HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus multicolor. — Latham.

Peate XXXI.

Harlequin Humming-bird, Trocliilus multicolor, Latham's Gene-
ral History of Birds , veil. 5 t. p. 316 L’Arlcquin, Vieillot,

Oiseaux Doris , pi. bus Lesson, Histoire Naturelle des

Oiseaux-mouches, pi. lxxii. p. 201.

This curious and singularly marked species was
figured and described by Dr Latham, from a specimen
in the British Museum, and a representation of it also
existed among the drawings of General Davis, and rests
on these authorities. It was copied from Latham into
the Oiseaux Dores of Vieillot, again by Lesson in his
Monograph, and we have ventured a third time to
introduce it, with the view of attracting the attention
of British naturalists, for it has been hinted that the
specimen in the British Museum was a specimen made
up from the feathers of different birds. Dr Latham,
after the publication of his figure, was aware of this ;
and in a notice to his second edition, expressly says,
“ by every attention paid to it, I cannot detect it.”
If there is a specimen in the British Museum, and a

VOJ.. VI.

M

]8t) HARLEQUIN HUMMING-BIRD.

drawing in the possession of General Davis, correspond-
ing and evidently done from an individual of the same
species, there will be no doubt of its existence. We
give Dr Latham’s description in his own words.
“ Length, four inches and a half; bill bent, one inch
and a quarter in length, and brown ; crown of the
head, chin, breast, and middle of the back, green;
from the bill through the eyes, a fine blue stripe, pass-
ing almost to the nape ; the lower part of this edged
with black; upper parts of the body and wings, brown ;
belly and vent, the colour of cinnebar, but not glossy,
like the rest of the plumage ; tail even at the end, and
brown ; legs, pale brown.”

' ■ ■ f

- ' •' ■ '• !

PLATE

u

n

TROCHILUS GRAM IN EPS- Adult Male. Native of S‘

167

BLACK-BREASTED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilus gramineus — Lin n® us.

Plate XXXII. Adult Male.

Colibri du Mexique, Bitffon , Planches Enluminees , dclxxx —
Black-breasted Humming-bird, Latham's General History ,
vol. iv. p. 302. — Le Haitieu, Lesson , Jlistoire Naturelle des
Colibris , pi. xii. male.

“ The Haitien," says M. Vieillot, “ delights in the
vicinity of inhabited places, which it rarely quits as
long as the trees and shrubs continue in bloom ; it
generally perches on a stray or withered twig, where
it expands its tail. I have never heard it sing, but
while flying, and especially during the season of incu-
bation, it utters a continued cry, which often betrays
it before it would otherwise be discovered. This little
bird will seldom allow others to approach the tree on
which its nest is built. The mocking-bird is obliged to
yield to his pursuit ; he continually darts around, and
striking his bill at the eyes of the intruder, obliges
him to fly.” This species is of a strong make, and
above the average size of the humming-birds. It will
range in the division which includes the well-known T.
mango, for which in some states it has been mistaken.

188

BLACK-BREASTED HUMMING-BIRD.

The young have also been described under different
names ; but a comparison of the present plate with
that following, engraved from Lesson's Monograph,
will point out the distinction. It has been sent to
Europe from Guiana and St Domingo, but will most
probably have a wider range.

The upper parts of the adult male are of a golden
green; on the throat there is a patch or gorget of
deep and bright emerald green scaly feathers, and
which with some lights appear almost black ; this is
succeeded with a large patch of dull black occupying
the forepart of the breast, whence the name given by
Latham ; the belly and flanks are brownish, tinged
with green, and the vent is white ; the wings ^are
powerful ; the shaft of the first quill very strong ; the
tail is ample, rounded at the extremity, which is bor-
dered with black for a quarter of its length, while the
basal half is of a clear purplish brown.

\

PLATE 33.

TROCHILITS (V RAM INEUS -Young;. Nature or S* Domingo.
( Black-breasted Humming-Bird.)

lf?9

BLACK-BREASTED HUMMING-BIRD.

Trochilua gramineus Linn-ees.

Plate XXXIII. Young.

The Synonyms to this state will perhaps be Trochilua gulari*,

Limueus Black-breasted Humming-bird, Latham , variety

B. — Grcen-throatcd Humming-bird, Latham's General His.
lory, vol. iv. p. 305. — Lo Hai'ticn, jcuno age. Lesson , His-
itnre Naturelle dies Colibris , pi. xii. vir. p. 56.

The upper parts in this state are of a golden green,
changing to brownish on the forehead ; on the forepart
of the neck there is a black streak, through which
appear some green scaly feathers ; the black is sur-
rounded on the sides with white, clouded with gray-
ish and reddish spots; the flanks and sides of the
breast are green, tinged with brown ; the middle tail
feathers are a very deep greenish brown ; the other
feathers are nearly as in the adult state, but are ter-
minated with a white spot-

190

BLUE-THROATED SABRE-WING.*

Trochilus latipennis.

Plate XXXIV.

Trochilus latipennis, Broad-shafted Humming-bird, Sioainson ,
Zoological Illustrations , first series, plate cvii. — Oiseau-mouche
latipenne, (Campyloptcrus latipennis, Sw.) Lesson , Ilistoire
Naturelle des Oiseaua’-mouches , pi. xxxv. p. 124.

We are indebted to Mr Swainson for permission
to copy his beautiful plate of this singular bird ; and
since the figure was completed, we have fortunately,
by the attention of Mr Kirk, received two perfect
specimens of the bird itself from the island of Tobago,
which have served for the following description. We
may remark, that Mr Swainson’s specimen was pur-
chased at Bullock’s sale, and that he considered the
specimen unique; and when Lesson published his
Monograph, in 1829, no specimen existed in the
Paris collections.

The Tobago specimens are about five inches and
a quarter in length. On the throat is a patch of the
clearest violet-blue, shading off to steel-blue on the

This plate is slightly reduced from the original.

CAMPYLOVTERUS LATIPENNIS

BLUE-THROATED SABRE WING.

J 9 1

sides, and which forms a gorget, passing in a line with
the rictus. The upper and under parts, and shoulders,
are of a rich golden green, of a yellower tinge on the
belly and vent. The wings are purplish black, and
are remarkable for the strength and breadth of the
quills, particularly the three first, which nearly equal
the plume in breadth. The feathers of the tail are
very broad and ample. They are ten in number ;
the centre ones are black, with a bright green lustre.
The next pair also black, -with a steel-blue lustre, or,
as Mr Swainson expresses it, raven black; the re-
maining three on each side are pure white.

The accompanying notes from Tobago mention,
“ that they take their abodes principally in the woods,
by rivulets, or in low marshy places, among the wild
plantain bushes. When some particular trees are in
blossom, they are to be Been in great numbers, in the
cool of the evening, playing and feeding around them.”

This species will serve to point out the form which
Mr Swainson proposes to designate by the title of
Campylopterus.

END OF VOLUME FIRST.