HABITS IN CAPTIVITY. '99 



frequency of its visits and its pertinacity. Bou- 

 quets of fresh flowers were procured for them ; 

 but these they did not much regard, though one 

 or two species of Lantana seemed to be more at- 

 tractive than the rest. The honied and fragrant 

 bunches of blossom of the Morenga, which, while 

 on the tree, prove so attractive, also tempted the 

 captives, but were soon neglected ; probably be- 

 cause they were at the time destitute of nectar, 

 or perhaps because the syrup-glass gave a more 

 copious draught. To this glass they always clung 

 with the feet, and often to the flowers also. It 

 happened that there were lines stretched across 

 the room, for the purpose of drying specimens 

 of natural objects, skins, &c. On these lines 

 each selected his own roosting place, at some 

 distance apart, and invariably kept to it. They 

 had also their own peculiar stations for alighting 

 and taking a temporary rest ; and so pertina- 

 ciously did they adhere to these stations, that 

 they disputed every attempt to make them 

 change the place, evincing distress by hovering 

 round the interdicted spot, and making every 

 endeavour to alight. To this predilection of the 

 Humming-birds for a particular twig on which 

 to perch, allusion has been previously made. It 

 is observable in other birds, as the Flycatcher of 

 our island, the Kingfisher, &c. 



Of these two Humming-birds the boldest was 

 inclined to be pugnacious and overbearing, oc- 

 casionally attacking his gentler companion, who 



