PRESERVATION IN CAPTIVITY. 93 



earthen cup about half filled with sugar and 

 water, of the consistence of thin syrup ; in 

 this various flowers had been inserted, princi- 

 pally the bell-shaped corolla of the great Aloe 

 (Agava Americana), the end of which next the 

 stem being cut off, permitted the liquid to flow 

 into the flower; into this the little prisoners 

 were constantly inserting their long bifid 

 tongues, and drawing up its luscious contents. 

 This operation, like most of the actions of the 

 bird, was generally performed on the wing ; but 

 they sometimes alighted on the flower, perching 

 against its sides in an upright position, and 

 pumping up the mucilaginous liquid." 



There is a great difference in the conduct of 

 Humming-birds under confinement ; all are by 

 no means so contented as Mr. Bullock would 

 lead us to infer ; sometimes they flutter violently 

 about in great agitation, and do not easily become 

 reconciled, and sometimes they pine moodily, 

 and soon die. Mr. Grosse captured a MANGO 

 HUMMINGKBIUD which beat itself to death. 



Audubon, in his account of the Ruby-throated 

 Humming-bird, a migratory species, tells us 

 that he has seen many of these birds kept in 

 partial confinement, when they were supplied 

 with artificial flowers made for the purpose, in 

 the corollas of which water, with honey or sugar 

 dissolved in it, was placed. They were fed upon 

 this diet exclusively, but seldom lived many 

 months, and, on being examined after death, 

 were found to be extremely emaciated. Others, 



