BRAZILIAN WOOD NYMPH. 257 



I must cursorily mention one or two more of the most curious ex- 

 amples. One of these birds is the Brazilian Wood Nymph 

 {Thalurania glaucopis), a species which is perhaps more persecuted 

 than any other, its singular beauty causing its plumage to be 

 sought after. 



The feathers on the crown of the head and front of the throat 

 are of the most lovely azure, and are largely used by the inmates 

 of several convents at Eio Janeiro for the purpose of being made 

 into the beautiful feather flowers which the nuns manufacture so 

 skillfully. Thousands of these birds are slaughtered merely for 

 the crest and gorget ; but so prolific are they, and so ingeniously 

 do they hide their nests, that the persecution of many years has 

 scarcely diminished their numbers. Moreover, fortunately for 

 the preservation of the species, the colors of the female are so 

 dull and sober, that her feathers are of no value, and she is al- 

 lowed to escape the fate that befalls the more brightly colored 

 male. It is a lively little bird, and when alarmed utters a hur- 

 ried cry, sounding like the word "Pip, pip, pip," very sharply 

 pronounced. 



The nest of the Brazilian "Wood Nymph is exceedingly pretty, 

 and is hung to the tip of some delicate twig, generally that of 

 one of the creeping plants which trail their long stems so luxuri- 

 antly over the branches of the great forest trees. The walls of 

 the nest are made of vegetable fibres, generally taken from the 

 fruit of some palm, and upon the outside are fastened many patch- 

 es of flat lichen, so that the whole nest, which is very long in pro- 

 portion to its width, may easily escape detection. 



The second species is to be found in every collection of hum- 

 ming-birds, and even the glass cases of these creatures which are 

 sold in the shops are seldom without a specimen of the Euby 

 and Topaz Humming-bird (Chrysolampts moschitus). It derives 

 its name from the rich ruby red which decorates the crown of the 

 head, and the fiery topaz which blazes on the gorget. This spe- 

 cies has a very wide range of residence, being found throughout 

 Bahia, all the Guianas, Trinidad, and the Caraccas, and is killed 

 by thousands for the sake of its plumage. I was about to say for 

 the sake of its skin, but as that expression would imply that the 

 humming-birds seen in cases are all skinned and stuffed, it can 

 not be rightly used. 



A stuffed humming-bird is very seldom seen, though thousands 



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