116 Mr. G. C. Taylor on Birds collected 



but it did not appear to be effective beyond 15 feet or there- 

 abouts. 



I have heard persons recommend ivater for knocking down 

 Humming-birds. It may answer, but requires an old gun, and 

 Humming-birds to be far more plentiful than I ever found 

 them. IMoreover, very close quarters are needful. The Hum- 

 ming-birds I nsed to shoot were often high up in trees. Now, 

 if water is to be used, it is obviously essential to success that 

 Humming-birds be plentiful, and that they frequent flowers 

 in a garden, or low bushes and shrubs, so that one can ap- 

 proach very close ; and in such situations they may be more 

 easily caught in a butterfiy-net. Moreover, when a gun is 

 charged with water, it will not do to wait half an hour or more 

 for a chance of discharging it. In Jamaica I found great diffi- 

 culty in securing good specimens of the minute Vervain Hum- 

 ming-bird [Mellisuga humilis), and still more in the case of 

 the Long-tailed Humming-bird {Trochilus polytmus), whose 

 long tail-feathers were liable to be cut by the shot, while the 

 remainder of the plumage was left uninjured. 



I recommend all persons going on bird-shooting expeditions 

 to take with them a good supply of the finest shot procurable. 

 I suffered great inconvenience from the want of it. Large shot 

 is generally to be obtained in abundance. 



30. The White Humming-bird. (Thaumatias candidus.) 



I saw but very few specimens of this Humming-bird. The 

 three species here mentioned are the only Trochilida that came 

 under my notice while in Honduras. 



31. Black-chinned Jacamar. {Galbula melanogenia.) 



I did not see these birds until near the Atlantic coast, where 

 they were pretty common and very tame. They were generally 

 seen sitting on low bushes, ready to dart on any insects that 

 might come in their way. They are easy birds to preserve, as 

 the skin is tough and comes off without difficulty. Waterton 

 gives a good description of them in his ' Wanderings.' 



32. Belted Kingfisher. {Ceryle alcyon.) 



Seen on several occasions, but they were wild, so I was unable 

 to obtain a specimen. 



