142 



TUE WHITE-FOOTED KOCKET-TAIL. 



THE WHITE-FOOTED ROCKKT-TAIL. 



food, mIiIcIi it procures from the highest trees, as well as from branches 

 near the ground. During its flight, it passes througli the air with 

 arrow-like swiftness, the tail being carried in a horizontal position. 



INIr. Gos'^e gives the following interesting account of one of the many 

 attempts he made to rear two young males of tliis beautiful species: 

 "The subjects of this experiment were not confined in a cage, but ke})t 

 in a room with doors and windows close shut. They were lively, but 

 not wild ; playful towards each other, and tame with respect to myself, 

 sitting unrestrained for several seconds at a time on my finger. I 

 collected a few flowers, placed them in a vase on a high shelf, and to 

 these they resorted immediately ; but I soon found that they paid atten- 

 tion to none but a certain plant. I then went out and gathered a large 

 quantity of them, and was pleased to observe that on entering the room 

 one flew to my nosegay and sucked while I held it in my hand." 



