474- Natural History in foreign Countries : — 



in this apartment, situated on the north side of the house, the 

 family breakfasted and lunched. I spent three days there; 

 and, while taking my meals, had at least an equal treat, in 

 seeing these smallest of the feathered tribes gaily and actively 

 employed in then* building process. I have now in my pos- 

 session a nest of the bee humming-bird, which I removed 

 from the end of a branch of a mango tree [Mangifera indica] 

 which was not a foot above my head, and close to the door of 

 a dwelling-house. I cannot quit this article without speaking 

 of the delight that was aiForded me, in Jamaica, by seeing 

 humming-birds feeding on honey in the florets of the great 

 aloe [Agave americana LT^, On the side of a hill upon Sutton's 

 Estate (the property of Henry Dawkins, Esq.) were a con- 

 siderable number of aloe plants, of which about a dozen were 

 in full blossom. They were spread over a space of about 

 twenty yards square. The spikes, bearing bunches of flowers in 

 a thyrsus, were from 12 to 1 5 ft. high ; on each spike were 

 many hundred flowers of a bright yellow colour, each floret 

 of a tubular shape, and containing a good-sized drop of honey. 

 Such an assemblage of floral splendour was in itself most 

 magnificent and striking ; but it may be imagined how much 

 the interest caused by this beautiful exhibition was increased 

 by vast numbers of humming-birds, of various species, flutter- 

 ing at the opening of the flowers, and dipping their bills, first 

 into one floret and then into another, the sun, as usual, shin- 

 ing bright upon their varied and beautiful plumage. The long- 

 tailed or bird of Paradise humming-bird was particularly 

 striking, its long feathers waving as it darted from one flower 

 to another. I was so much delighted with this sight, that I 

 visited the spot again in the afternoon, after a very long and 

 fatiguing day's ride, accompanied by my wife, on horseback, 

 when we enjoyed the scene before us for more than half an 

 hour. In this Magazine (Vol. I. p. 371.) there is a note 

 furnished by Mr. Rennie, respecting the food of the humming- 

 bird. Mr. Rennie is of opinion that the Jrochilidae do not 

 feed on honey, but that their food is insects. I have related 

 what appeared to be a fact, in proof of the general opinion of 

 their eating honey being correct. I gathered a bunch of the 

 flowers of the aloe, but did not perceive any insects in them ; 

 and I have known several instances of humming-birds being 

 kept alive for some time by feeding them with sugar and 

 water : further, when birds make insects their prey, it is by 

 a sudden darting upon them ; whereas the humming-bird is 

 fluttering some seconds at each flower, as if employed in 

 sipping honey, rather than in catching insects. 



[The paragraph above referred to (viz. Vol. I. p. 371.) de- 



