rJoO THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



tliat these little creatures are sadly prone to quarrel over tiieir 

 cups, not of wine, but nectareous flowers. Frequently four or 

 five of them may be seen engaged in a flying flglit when 

 disputing the possession of a blossoming tree in the forests of 

 Brazil, and then they dart so swiftly through the air that the 

 eye can scarcely follow them in their meteorlike evolutions. 



As the smallest shot would blow the tiny humming-birds to 

 pieces, and inevitably destroy the beauty of their plumage, they 

 are taken by aspersing them with water from a syphon, or by 

 means of a butterfly net. 



There are many species of Humming-birds, various in size 

 and liabit, with straight or curved bills, with a naked or a 

 crested head, with a short or a long tail; some constantly con- 

 cealing themselves in the solitudes of the forest ; while others 

 liover round the habitations of man, and frequently during 

 their disputes pursue each other into the apartments whose 

 windows are left open, taking a turn round the room, as flies do 

 with us, and then suddenly regaining the open air. 



Next to the humming-birds the Cotingas display the gayest 

 plumage in the iVmerican woods. They are, however, not often 

 seen, for they lead a solitary life in the moist and shadowy 

 forests, where they feed on the various seeds and fruits of the 

 woods. One species is attired in burning scarlet, others in 

 purple and blue, but they are all so splendidly adorned that it 

 would be difficult to say which of them deserves the prize fur 

 beauty. Most of the Cotingas have no song ; the nearly 

 related snow-white Campanero or bell-bird, however, amply 

 makes up for the deficient voice of his cousins, by the singu- 

 larity and sweetness of his note. He is 

 about the size of a jay. On his forehead 

 rises a singular spiral tube nearly three 

 inches long. It is jet black, dotted all 

 over with small white feathers. It has a 

 communication with the palate, and when 

 filled with air looks like a spire, when 

 empty it becomes pendulous. His note is 

 loud and clear, like the sound of a bell. ' In the midst of the 

 forests,' says Waterton, 'generally on the dried top of an aged 

 mora, almost out of gun reach, you will see the Campanero. 

 No sound or song from any of the winged inhabitants of the 



CAMPAXErfO. 



