88 PRESERVATION IN CAPTIVITY. 



them as captives into England, are two points 

 which have engaged the attention of many orni- 

 thologists. Now, it is well known that, some 

 years ago, a female MANGO HUMMING-BIRD, 

 sitting upon two eggs, was captured, with the 

 nest, that she hatched the eggs on shipboard 

 during the passage of the vessel from Jamaica, 

 and soon died j that the young were brought to 

 England, and committed to the care of Lady 

 Hammond; that one died in a very short time, and 

 the other in about two months. The mere pos- 

 sibility, therefore, of bringing home these lovely 

 birds is demonstrated ; but their preservation is 

 quite another question. It cannot be effected. 



With regard to the possibility of keeping 

 them in confinement in their native regions, 

 although attempts to effect this have been par- 

 tially successful, the result has ever been a fail- 

 ure. As far as migratory species are concerned, 

 little hope of success can be entertained ; for we 

 know the difficulty with which our own migra- 

 tory birds can be preserved in active health, 

 even in the best-regulated aviaries. The in- 

 stinctive pining for change of habitat suffices to 

 destroy life. 



But, referring to non-migratory Trochilidce, 

 the great difficulty in furnishing an abundant 

 supply of insect food, is the chief cause of fail- 

 ure. It is true that these birds imbibe nectar, 

 and will drink honey or sugar and water ; but 

 they cannot subsist on such a diet alone, at least 



