292 



THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



is described by Mr. Bullock as exhibiting great intrepidity while under the influence of 

 ano-er. It will attack the eyes of the larger birds, striking at them with its sharp, 

 needle-like bill ; and when invaded by one of its own kind during the breeding season, 

 their mutual wrath becomes immeasurable, their throats swell, their crests, tails, and 

 wings expand, and they tight in the air till one or other falls exhausted to the ground. 

 Indeed, old Fernando Oviedo gives a still more alarming account of their fiery temper. 

 " When they see a man climb j^e tree where they ha\-e their nests, they flee at his face, 

 and stryke him in the eyes, commying, goying, and returnyng with such swiftness, that 

 no man would ryghtly believe it that hath not seen it." 



Various attempts have been made, with more or less of success, to rear these beautiful 

 little birds in confinement. One which was I'aptured by AVilson, though quite young, 

 refused to take food, and in a few hours it could only just be detected that life remained. 

 A lady, however, undertaking to be its nurse, placed it in her bosom, and as it began to 

 revive, dissolved a little sugar in her mouth, into which she thrust its bill, and it sucked 

 with avidity. In this manner it was brought up till just fit for the cage, and it Ynvd 

 for upwards of three months. It was supplied with loaf-sugar dissol\-ed in water, which 

 it preferred to diluted honey ; and every morning it had fresh flo\\-ers sprinkled with 



HEAD OV ORNISML\ ANGEL.E. HE.4.D OY OKNISMIA LATIPENNIS. HEAD OF OUNISMIA SUPElUiA. 



HEAD OF TROCHILUS ENSIEERUS.— BOISSONNEAU. 



WING OF ORNISMIA LATIl'EXNIS.— LESSON. 



the liquid, from one to another of which it hovered with great activity and spirit, as if 

 in its native wilds ; alwaj^s expressing, by its motions and voice, great pleasure when 

 fresli flowers were introduced to the cage. The space in which it was kept ^^•as 

 surrounded with gauze, so as to prevent the bii'd injuring itself, and every precaution 

 was adopted in order to keei) it during the winter ; but, unfortunately, it got at large 

 into the room, and fl.^'ing about, so injured itself that it soon afterwards died. 



The humming-bird is extremely susceptible to cold, and if exjjoscd to it deatli speedily 

 ensues. A beautifid male siJecimen was preserved by Wilson in 1809, which he put 

 into a wire cage, and placed in a retired and sliaded part of a room. "After fluttering 

 about for some time," he says, " the weather being uncommonly cool, it clung by the 

 wires, and hung in a seemingly torpid state for a whole forenoon. No nujtion whatever 

 of the lungs coidd be perceived, on the closest iiisjjcction, thougli, at otlier times, tliis is 

 remarkably observable ; the eyes wore shut; and, when touclied by the linger, it gave 

 no signs of life or motion. I carried it out (o the open air, and placed it directly in the 

 rays of the sun, in u .sheltered situation. In a lew seconds respiration became very 

 apparent : the bird breathed faster and faster, opcued its eyes, and began to look about, 

 with as mucli seeming vivacity as ever. After it had completely reco\ercd, 1 restored 

 it to liberty ; and it flew off to the withered lop of u pear-tree, where it sat for some 

 time di'essing its disordered plumage, ami then shot oU'likc a meteor." 



