LONG-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 99 



their tips, he observes, ** there is one solitary 

 instance where these long exterior feathers are 

 turned inwards instead of outwards : this occurs in 

 a Humming-bird figured by Edwards, as a native 

 of Jamaica, hut we have never yet seen it, nor is a 

 specimen known to exist at this time in any 

 museum." (Class. Birds, I. 105.) This is no other 

 than Polytmus ; the long tail-feathers of which do 

 bend inwards so as to cross each other when the bird 

 is resting. I may add here that these long feathers 

 have the inner edge prettily waved, not by actual in- 

 dentation, but by a puckering of the margin, like a 

 frill. 



The Long-tail is a permanent resident in 

 Jamaica, and is not uncommonly seen at all 

 seasons and in all situations. It loves to fre- 

 quent the margins of woods and road-sides, where 

 it sucks the blossoms of the trees, occasionally 

 descending, however, to the low shrubs. There is 

 one locaKty where it is abundant, the summit of 

 that range of mountains just behind Bluefields, and 

 known as the Bluefields ridge. Behind the peaks 

 which are visible from the sea, at an elevation of 

 about half a mile, there runs through the dense 

 woods a narrow path, just passable for a horse, 

 overrun with beautiful ferns of many graceful forms-, 

 and always damp and cool. No habitation occurs 

 within several miles and no cultivation, save the 

 isolated provision grounds of the negroes, which are 

 teeming with enormous Arums : and these are hid- 

 den from view far up in the thick woods. 



The refreshing coolness of this road, its unbroken 



F 2 



