WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 299 



The large Immming-bird, called by the Indians 

 Karabimiti, invariably builds its nests in the 

 slender branches of the trees which hang over the 

 rivers and creeks. In appearance, it is like brown 

 tanned leather, and without a particle of lining. 

 The rim of the nest is double inwards, and I al- 

 ways conjectured that it had taken this shape 

 on account of the body of the bird pressing 

 against it while she was laying her eggs. But 

 this is quite a wrong conjecture. Instinct has 

 taught the l)ird to give it this shape, in order that 

 the eggs may be prevented from rolling out. 



The trees on the river's bank are particularly 

 exposed to violent gusts of wind, and while I have 

 been sitting in the canoe, and looking on, I have 

 seen the slender branch of the tree which held the 

 humming-bird's nest so \'iolently shaken, that the 

 bottom of the inside of the nest has appeared, 

 and had there been nothing at the rim to stop the 

 eggs, they must inevitably have been jerked into 

 the water. I suspect the humming-bird never 

 lays more than two eggs. I never found more 

 than two in any of the many nests which have 

 come in my way. The eggs were always white, 

 without any spots on them. 



Probably travellers have erred in asserting that 

 the monkeys of South America throw sticks and 

 fruit at their pursuers. I have had fine oppor- 

 tunities of narrowly watching the different species 

 of monkeys which are found in the wilds, betwixt 

 the Amazons and the Oroonoque. I entirely ac- 

 quit them of acting on the offensive. When the 

 monkeys are in the high trees over your head, 

 the dead branches will now and then fall down 



