166 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



sion of its dominions; for, the moment any 

 other bird, though ten times larger than itself, 

 approached the tree, it furiously attacked and 

 drove off the* intruder ; always returning to the 

 same twig, which it had worn quite bare, by 

 continually perching on the same spot. 



Mr. Bullock observed these birds feeding on 

 insects, which contradicts the general idea that 

 they live only on the honey of flowers. When 

 he was in Mexico, one of them took possession 

 of a pomegranate-tree, and sat on it the whole 

 day catching the flies that came into the flowers ; 

 and on dissection he has found other insects in their 

 stomach. Though naturally petulant, and very 

 tenacious of intrusion, they seldom quarrel in 

 captivity ; for example, when a great blue- 

 throated humming-bird occupied the perch, he 

 has seen the diminutive Mexican star settle on 

 its beak, and quietly remain there for some in- 

 stants, \vithout the insult having been resented. 

 In the air, indeed, they fight desperately till one 

 falls, and Mr. Bullock witnessed a battle in heavy 

 rain, every drop of which he thought would have 

 been sufficient to beat the little combatants to the 

 ground. 



They are still worn by the Mexican ladies as 

 ornaments for the ears ; and their name in the 

 Indian language signifies " Beams, or locks of 

 the sun." But he says, what is very true, indeed, 

 that the stuffed humming-birds can give but little 



