PRESERVATION IN CAPTITITT. 95 



much relish. It throve manifestly, and the fea- 

 thers grew apace ; and on the 29th of the same 

 month, it was almost ready to leave the nest. 

 On that day, however, it unexpectedly died. 

 Mr. Grosse, however, procured another young 

 one, which he reared under similar circumstances 

 until it was actually fledged. "When nearly full 

 grown it began to exercise its pinions, vibrating 

 them while resting on the edge of the nest, and 

 ultimately took its flight out at the window. 

 Had no insects been afforded, we doubt not that 

 the bird would have died. 



Easily as adult Humming-birds are captured 

 by means of a gauze-net, their curiosity leading 

 them to hover over the mouth and peep into it, 

 yet, as far at least as the Polytmus is concerned, 

 it is no easy matter to convey them to a place 

 of security. Mr. Grosse found that those he 

 thus captured, though neither struck nor in- 

 jured in any way, were usually either dead, or 

 in a dying state, by the time he arrived at his 

 house ; and that the few which did arrive at the 

 house in apparent health mostly died the next 

 day. They did not beat themselves against the 

 cage, but sunk under the misery of confinement. 

 They would suddenly fall to the floor of the 

 cage, and He motionless with closed eyes ; 

 if taken into the hand, they would perhaps 

 seem to revive for a few moments, then throw 

 back the head, or toss it to and fro as if in 

 great suffering, puff up the feathers of the 



