466 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



their excessive minuteness. The Creoles of the Antilles call them 

 Murmurers ; the Spaniards Picaflores ; the Brazilians Shupaflorcs, or 

 Flower-suckers ; finally, the Indians call them Sunbeams. 



Humming-birds are much sought after not for their flesh, which 



Fig. 186. Nest of Ruby and Topaz Humming-bird. 



is valueless, from its minute quantity, but for their feathers ; ladies 

 turn these to various uses, making from them collars, pendants for the 

 ears, &c. This cruel custom is now generally condemned. Some 

 Indian races that have been converted to Christianity employ them to 

 decorate the images of saints. The Mexicans and Peruvians formerly 



