Finches. 225 



free to find this insect aliment ; therefore he concludes 

 that the only way to bring them safely to England, 

 would be by supplying them during the voyage with 

 the minute insects, only to be found in the nectar of 

 certain flowers, into which they dip their long bills. 

 If this could be done, he thinks they might be intro- 

 duced into our conservatories. The reprehensible 

 caprice of the present day, which causes a number of 

 these beautiful little creatures to be sacrificed on the 

 altar of fashion, as ornaments to ladies' heads and hats, 

 shows that they are not difficult to be procured. It is 

 reported that some have been brought to Paris by a 

 Frenchman who lived many years in Mexico, who feeds 

 them on a syrup containing some animal substance. 

 These may perhaps be exhibited at the forthcoming 

 Paris Exhibition. 



Upwards of three hundred varieties of Trochilidce 

 have been described, and new species are continually 

 added to the list, exhibiting an inexhaustible variety 

 of form and colour. 



