SC PEESEEYATION TN CAPTIYITT. 



should we have to offer them ? Honey in abun- 

 dance; but, as for the peculiar insects upon 

 which each species feeds, insects which affect 

 certain flowers, neglecting others whence it 

 comes that one species of bird is attracted to 

 one or more kinds of flowers, and passes by 

 many attractive to other species : as for these 

 insects, we say, we can offer no substitute. 



Mr. G-osse, however, seems to think that 

 Humming-birds might, with due precaution, be 

 transported to our island, and be preserved 

 alive. Such is not our opinion. However, we 

 ought in fairness to listen to his plan as he de- 

 tails it. 



" I would have a very capacious cage wired on 

 every side, in the bottom of which a supply of 

 decaying fruit, such as oranges or pines should 

 be constantly kept, but covered with wire, that 

 the birds might not defile their plumage. This, 

 as I have proved, would attract immense num- 

 bers of minute flies, which, flitting to and fro in 

 the cage, would probably afford sufficient suste- 

 nance to the birds in conjunction with the syrup. 

 The birds, however, should be caged as short a 

 time as possible before sailing, which might be 

 early in May, and by a steamer, which calling at 

 St. Thomas, Bermuda, and the Azores, large 

 bunches of fresh flowers and even herbage might 

 be obtained at short intervals on the voyage, 

 with which, of course, a multitude of insects 

 would be introduced. Thus, I still think, these 



