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Description

Southwell recounts Mr Fovey's observations from the island of Nevis in theWest Indies, including a description of hummingbirds (Trochilidae) and how they 'suck their food from the blossoms of trees, and feed their young with such honey or juices as they suck from hence'.

Subject: Zoology / Ornithology

Read to the Royal Society on 20 October 1697

Reference number
CLP/15i/53
Earliest possible date
October 1697
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Robert Southwell

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Citation

Robert Southwell, Paper, 'Of the humming bird' by Robert Southwell, October 1697, CLP/15i/53, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_15i_53/paper-of-the-humming-bird-by-robert-southwell, accessed on 14 June 2026

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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