THE WHITE-FOOTED ROCKET-TAIL. 141 



were filled with a mixture of brown sugar and water as often as 

 L'lnptiod ; and he had the pleasure of seeing them perform every action ; 

 t(>r they soon grew familiar, and, though close luider the eye, took their 

 nourishment in the same manner as when ranging at large in the open 

 ail" 



The tonoue of the Hummino;-Bird is formed much like that of thfi 

 Woodpecker, being cui'led round the head, under the skin, antl thus 

 capable of being darted to a considerable distance. 



I'here is a fable of a Wren and an Eagle. The two birds entereil 

 into a contest respecting the height to which they could severally 

 attain. A day was fixed, and the birds started. Away went the 

 Eagle, soaring in lessening spires, until his form was lost in the 

 clouds. But where was the Wren? The Eagle had lost sight 

 of his pigmy opponent long ago, but in his pride to show what 

 he could do, he still soared on and on, until the lighter air would 

 Bcarcely bear his weight. As he hovered with wearied and rapidly 

 beating wings, unable to gain another yard, up sprang the wren from 

 among the Eagle's feathers, where it had sat very comfortably all the 

 while, and fluttered above his head with a song of triumph. 



But truth, as has been often said, is stranger than fiction, as nppeari 

 from the fact that the Eagle can be vanished by a more insignificarit 

 foe than even the Wren, by the Ilumming-Bird, which is not content 

 with a mere racing victory, but drives the Eagle before it. The Ruby- 

 throated Ilumming-Bird has been seen to dart between the wings of a 

 flying Eagle, to perch upon its head, deliberately to strip off the 

 feathers, and send them floating in a stream after the flight of the 

 persecuted Eagle, which seemed almost driven to madness by its tiny 

 foe. 



Like many otber little creatures, the assurance and impudence of 

 the Humming-bird is remarkable. It is easily tamed for that very 

 reason, and has been known to domesticate itself in an hour from the 

 time of its capture, and even when released, it has returned again to 

 partake of the dainties which it had tasted during its captivity. 



THE WHITE-FOOTED ROCKET-TAIL. 



"This species," says Gould, "enjoys a range of habitat over the 

 Columbian Andes, from the third to the tenth degree of north latitude, 

 but appears to be confined to the region ranging botwooti 5,000 and 

 9,000 feet above the level of the ocean; it is abundant i i the neigh- 

 borhood of Santa Fe de Bogota, and numerous in Galapan, between 

 La Guayra and the Caraccas." Mr. Dyson informs me that, when 

 hovering before a flower, the action of its wings is exceedingly rapid, 

 that it produces a loud humming sound, and the large spatules at the 

 end of the outer tail-feathers show very couspicuously, being kept in 

 continual motion by the rapid movements of the liird, and the repeated 

 closing and expanding of its tail ; its white-booted legs are equally 

 noticeable. It is strictly an inhabitant of the hills, and loves to examine 

 the flowers growing in open passes and glades of the forest for its insect 



