140 Messrs. A. owt? E. Newtou^s Observations 



the Swallow; and accordingly great as this alar action is, and 

 in spite of the contrary opinion entertained by Mr. Gosse (Nat. 

 Sojourn in Jamaica, 240), it is yet sometimes wanting in power, 

 owing doubtless to the disadvantageous leverage thus obtained ; 

 and the old authors must be credited, who speak of cobwebs 

 catching Humming Birds. 



"On the 3rd of May, 1857, a bird of this species flew into 

 the room where I was sitting, and, after fluttering for some 

 minutes against the ceiling, came in contact with a deserted 

 spider's web, in which it got entangled and remained suspended 

 and perfectly helpless for more than a minute, w^hen by a 

 violent effort it freed itself. I soon after caught it, still having 

 fragments of the web on its head, neck, and wings ; and I feel 

 pretty sure that, had this web been inhabited and in good re- 

 pair instead of being deserted and dilapidated, the bird would 

 never have escaped*." — A. N. 



" This bird breeds from the end of March to the end of June. 

 It is an easy matter to find its nest ; for on approaching within 

 ten or a dozen yards of where it is, the bird, if it is on, is sure 

 to fly at you, and then retreating remains suspended a few 

 seconds just above your head, when it darts off and perches on 

 some dead twig, most likely on the very tree which holds its 

 nest. It does not stay here long, but takes short flights into 

 the air, returning to the same place, and, when there, showing 

 its impatience by a continual flirting or, rather, twitching of its 

 wings. If you then retire, keeping your eye on the bird, it will 

 presently dart straight on to its nest, leaving it, however, at the 

 least movement on your part. This species is not particular as 

 to the tree on which it builds, as I have found nests on the 

 Silk-cotton, Mango, Manchioneel and Avocado-pear [Laurus 

 persea,Ij.). They are placed on a horizontal bi-anch, from half 

 an inch to two inches thick, and are composed of cotton or the 



* In the ' Zoologist ' for 1858 (p. 5922) is a note from Mr. J. M. Jones, 

 in which that gentleman says that the Vireo noveboracensis is sometimes 

 captured in the net of the large spider (Epeira clavipes) which is found in 

 the Bermudas ; and in his recent work, ' The Naturalist in Bermuda ' 

 (p. 126), he again repeats the statement, adding, however, that it is only 

 the young of that species which has been known to be thus entangled. 



