HABITS IN CAPTIVITY. 101 



Gosse, " we lose the radiant little meteor in one 

 corner, and as quickly hear the vibration of his 

 invisible wings behind us, or find him hovering 

 in front of our face, without having seen in the 

 least how he came there. It is worthy of ob- 

 servation, that POLTTMUS in flying upward keeps 

 the feathers of the tail closed, but in descending 

 they are expanded to the utmost, at which time 

 the two long feathers, quivering with the ra- 

 pidity of their motion like a streamer in a gale, 

 form about a right angle. I cannot tell why 

 there should be this difference, but I believe 

 it is invariable." 



From the 23rd of April to the end of May, 

 Mr. Grosse informs us, that he obtained about 

 twenty-five more living specimens, nearly all 

 males, most of which were captured on the Blue- 

 fields Bidge. Some were taken with a net, others 

 with birdlime. Of these specimens, however, 

 many died, before they could be conveyed home, 

 and many, although alive, were in a dying state. 

 They did not beat themselves against the sides 

 of the cage or basket, and had received no injury, 

 but, from the wild look of those which were 

 brought alive, sitting on the bottom of the cage, 

 gazing upwards, it was evident that extreme 

 terror had given the fatal shock. Of those who 

 'recovered from the first shock, and were turned 

 into the room, several more died within twenty- 

 four hours, by dashing and fluttering against the 

 walls, till at length they sunk exhausted, either 



