THE SWORD-SILL HUMMING-BIRD. 165 



found the task to be one of no ordinary difficulty. It was easy enough to catch them in 

 a gauze net, for they were so inquisitive that they would hover over the net and peep into its 

 recesses ; but when they were caught they would generally die within a few hours. Several of 

 the Long-tailed Humming-birds were at last taken from the nest, and were soon tamed. They 

 were fed chiefly upon syrup, but were also supplied with little insects, in imitation of their 

 ordinary diet in a wild state. They were especially pleased with a very small species of 

 ant, which used to get into the vessel of syrup and fairly cover its surface with their 

 bodies. 



There is a long and very interesting description of these birds, which resembles, in many 

 respects, the amusing account given by Mr. Webber -of Ms own winged pets. One peculiarity 

 deserves notice. Each bird, as soon as it was introduced into the room in which it lived, 

 made choice of separate perches for roosting, alighting after flight, and for resting-places, and, 

 when it had once settled itself, it would not permit any of its companions to usurp its domin- 

 ions. Even if their owner endeavored to make them change their perches, they were quite 

 uneasy, hovered about the spot, and did all in their power to reassume their positions. 



The nesting of this beautiful species is very remarkable, as the nests are wonderfully con- 

 structed, and are placed in very curious localities. One of these nests was found upon the 

 sea-shore, fastened to a slender twig of wild vine, and actually overhanging the waves. It 

 seems that the bird is in the habit of removing its eggs or young when it has been disturbed, 

 although the mode by which this feat is accomplished has not yet been discovered. The nest 

 is beautifully made of silky cotton threads, intermixed with the web of certain spiders, and is 

 often studded profusely with lichens. Mr. Gosse was fortunate enough to see the bird in the 

 act of making her nest, and describes her movements in the following words : 



" Suddenly I heard the whirr of a Humming-bird, and, looking up, saw a female Polytmus 

 hovering opposite the nest with a mass of silk-cotton in her beak. Deterred by the sight of 

 me, she presently retired to a twig a few paces distant, on which she sat. I immediately sank 

 down among the rocks as gently as possible, and remained perfectly still. In a few seconds 

 - she came again, and, after hovering a moment, disappeared behind one of the projections, 

 whence in a few seconds she emerged again and flew off. I then examined the place, and 

 found, to my delight, a new nest. . . . 



' ' I again sat down on the stones in front, where I could see the nest, not concealing 

 myself, but remaining motionless, waiting for the bird's re-appearance. I had not to wait 

 long : a loud whirr, and there she was, suspended in the air before her nest. She soon espied 

 me, and came within a foot of my eyes, hovering just in front of my face. I remained still, 

 however, when I heard the whirring of another just above me, perhaps the mate, but I durst 

 not look towards him, lest the turning of my head should frighten the female. In a minute 

 or two the other was gone, and she alighted again on the twig, where she sat some little time 

 preening her feathers, and apparently clearing her mouth from the cotton fibres, for she now 

 and then swiftly projected the tongue an inch and a half from the beak, continuing the same 

 curve as that of the beak. When she arose, it was to perform a very interesting action, for 

 she flew to the face of the rock, which was thickly clothed with soft dry moss, and, hovering 

 on the wing as if before a flower, began to pluck the moss until she had a large bunch of it in 

 her beak. Then I saw her fly to the nest, and having seated herself in it, proceed to place the 

 new materials, pressing and arranging and interweaving the whole with her beak, while she 

 fashioned the cup-like form of the interior by the pressure of her white breast, moving 

 round and round as she sat. My presence appeared to be no hindrance to her proceedings, 

 although only a few feet distant ; at length she left the place, and I left also. On the 8th 

 of April I visited the cave again, and found the nest perfected and containing two eggs, 

 which were not hatched on the 1st of May." 



In the same work are contained many interesting descriptions of this exquisite bird 

 and its habits, and to its pages the reader is referred for further information. 



THE SWORD-BILL HUMMING-BIRD derives its name from the singular shape and size of 

 its beak, which is very nearly as long as the rest of the body. 



