260 CENTRAL CHILE. [CHAP. xn. 



expanded and shut like a fan, the body being kept in a nearly 

 vertical position. This action appears to steady and support the 

 bird, between the slow movements of its wings. Although flying 

 from flower to flower in search of food, its stomach generally 

 contained abundant remains of insects, -which I suspect are much 

 more the object of its search than honey. The note of this species, 

 like that of nearly the whole family, is extremely shrill. 



