256 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



which takes its name of Pichinchian Hill Star from the mount- 

 ain on which it resides, is placed within thirty miles of the Chim- 

 borazian Hill Star, neither species is found upon the mountain 

 which is appropriated to its congener. Pichinchia is in the re- 

 public of Ecuador. 



There is a very remarkable nest made by one of these birds, 

 called the Sawbill Humming-bird {Grypus ncevius), because the 

 slender bill is notched in a saw-like fashion on the edges of both 

 mandibles. These serrations do not reach along the whole bill, 

 but only to a short distance from the tip. In appearance it is not 

 so strikingly beautiful as many of the humming-birds, and is chief- 

 ly remarkable for its reddish throat dotted with white, and having 

 a black mark down its centre. There are several humminsr-birds 



O 



which have the serrated edges to the mandibles, and are in conse- 

 quence called Sawbills, but the present species is the most worthy 

 of notice with respect to its nest. It is only found in the south 

 of Brazil. 



The nest of the Sawbill is made of fine vegetable fibres, woven 

 together so as to look like an open network purse, the outer walls 

 being so loosely made as to permit the eggs and lining to be visi- 

 ble. Leaves, mosses, and lichens are also woven into the nest, and 

 are packed rather tightly under the eggs. The edge, however, is 

 always left loose. The nest is suspended at the end of some leaf, 

 usually that of the palm. 



Mr. Gould mentions that the bird is found in the depths of vir- 

 gin forests, and is most plentiful about thirty miles from Nova 

 Fribergo in the months of July, August, September, and part of 

 October. It is generally seen darting round the orchidaceous 

 plants which flower so richly in that fertile climate, and is a rath- 

 er noisy bird, uttering loud and piercing cries, and making a 

 great whirring sound with its wings as it dashes through the air. 

 It is very strong and energetic on the wing, and is seldom seen 

 to alight. That the Sawbill feeds on insects has been satisfacto- 

 rily proved by the presence of small beetles in the throat of new- 

 ly-killed birds; and to judge by its actions, the hovering flight 

 and frequent stoop like that of the falcon, the bird feeds also on 

 flies and other winged insects. 



Although it is necessarily impossible to describe or even enu- 

 merate one tithe of the interesting nests made by humming-birds, 



