264 Mr. 0. Salvin on the 



The white sides and the white spot on the back show very 

 conspicuously as this bird rests on its perch. 



12. Thaumastura henicura. 

 Duefias. August. 



The Humming-birds' nests near the house at Dueiias, in the 

 year 1859, met with singular misfortune. Without looking 

 especially for them, I found three of Cyanomyia cyanocephala, 

 three of Thaumastura henicura, and one of Campylopterus rufas 

 close by, besides others more distant. Of these seven, one only, 

 or perhaps two pairs, succeeded in rearing their young. The 

 three nests of C. cyanocephala were all in the Cypress-trees. The 

 first I took ; the second was destroyed by some Indians after the 

 eggs had been incubated for some time; the third remained 

 unmolested, but I was not able to ascertain whether the young 

 birds were reared. The nest of C. rufus was also in one of the 

 Cypress-trees, at a height of about 5 feet 6 inches from the 

 ground. It had two eggs when I found it ; but the day following, 

 eggs, nest, and the branch on which it was placed, were destroyed 

 by some Indians who were working near. I am unable there- 

 fore to describe accurately the construction of the nest of this 

 last species, and can only remark that the old bird, most pi-o- 

 bably the female, allowed me to approach very closely — indeed, 

 so near that my head was within a foot of her. Of course I was 

 obliged to tread softly and slowly, and to keep my eyes steadily 

 fixed upon her. This tameness was a strong contrast to the 

 usually shy habits of this species. 



Two out of the three nests of T. henicura met with no better 

 fate than those just mentioned. One of these two was in a 

 Coffee-tree, and had two eggs. These were destroyed by some 

 means or other, soon after the hen bird had begun to sit. The 

 other nest of the two was most curiously placed in the cup-shaped 

 top of a fruit of the Nopal [Cactus cochinellifer) , the fastenings 

 being dexterously wound round the clustering prickles, and thus 

 retaining the whole structure most firmly in its place. This 

 nest was remarkably shallow ; so much so, that, if it had not 

 contained its two eggs, I should have pronounced it far from 

 complete. It may be that, being based on a firm foundation 



