32 PICARIAN BIRDS. 



he observed this bird clinging to rocks, a habit which, as he justly observes, 

 explains the use of the longer feet and claws. He believes that these birds build 

 their nests under overhanging ledges of rock, and breed in companies, the size of 

 the nest being very large, equalling that of a man's head. The nest itself 

 is comprised of wool, vicunia's hair, moss, and feathers, while at the top of this 

 great mass is a little cup-shaped depression in which the eggs are deposited. One 

 curious nest was found by Professor Jameson of Quito, suspended to a rope hanging 

 from the ceiling of a deserted house. When one side of the nest is lighter than 

 the other, the birds restore the equilibrium by adding a small stone or a square of 

 earth to the other side, so that the eggs run no danger of falling out. 

 Giant Humming- The largest known member of the family is the sole representa- 

 Bird. tive of the genus Patagona, and attains a length of 8J inches, while 

 the wing measures between 5 and 6 inches. This bird is found along the Andes 

 from Chili northwards to Ecuador, and is easily recognised by its large size and 

 somewhat sombre coloration ; while it is further distinguished by its strong feet, 

 and the white band on the rump, which sharply contrasts with the rest of the 

 plumage of the back. The flight is also peculiar, for although, according to 

 Darwin, the bird hovers over flowers, it does so with a very slow and deliberate 

 movement, quite unlike the vibratory one common to most species. When 

 hovering by a flower, he says, its tail is constantly expanded and shut like a fan, 

 the body being kept in a nearly vertical position ; while he further mentions that 

 he never saw any other bird where the force of its wings appeared, as in a 

 butterfly, so powerful in proportion to the weight of its body. Mr. Ridgway adds 

 that the flight of this great humming-bird is quite as noiseless as that of a 

 butterfly. In Peru the species is not rare in the ravines, where several may often 

 be met with together. In its flight it presents considerable resemblance to a swift, 

 and only differs in its more subdued motions, though it often glides through the 

 air without a movement of the wings. It visits a certain species of Jacksonia, 

 and the head of every specimen is tinged with yellow from this plant. It has also 

 a habit of mounting into the air, beating its wings in a vertical position, and 

 returning to its perch. The only note is a subdued whistle. 



Racket-Tailed Unmistakable on account of its relatively large tail and con- 



Humming-Bird. S pi CU ous crest, the beautiful and curious racket-tailed humming-bird 

 (Loddigesia mirabilis) is one of the smallest representatives of the whole family. 

 In the tail, while the two outermost feathers are long and pointed, the second pair 

 are produced in a wire-like form, crossing each other near the middle of their 

 length, and terminating in a large racket-like expansion of a beautiful purple hue. 

 First described from a single specimen in 1847, the species was not met with again 

 till 1880, when some fine examples were obtained from Mr. Stolzmann. The 

 original specimen came from Upper Amazonia, from the same locality where 

 Stolzmann's examples were obtained. It appears to be confined to the valley of 

 the Utcubamba, a little river on the right of the Maranon system, at an elevation 

 of some eight thousand feet. The country is open, with here and there a little 

 valley more richly clothed with vegetation, while an occasional clump of trees 

 survives, remains of the ancient forest which once was everywhere throughout the 

 region. Dense thickets abound, and a species of Alstromeria, of a red colour, is 



