THE MANGO HUMMING-BIRD. 215 



The upper part of the body is the usual golden- 

 green. The tail-feathers are rounded at the tip, 

 and are violet or purple, according to the light 

 in which you see them. 



A female Humming -Bird was once sitting in 

 her nest, when a young man who was passing saw 

 her. He contrived to cut off the branch with the 

 nest and the bird together, and to bring them 

 away. A few days after, he sailed for England, 

 and during the passage he fed the bird with honey 

 and water. She grew very tame, and continued 

 to hatch her eggs, out of which came, in course 

 of time, two tiny creatures no bigger than blue- 

 bottle flies. 



These little Humming- Birds began to grow and 

 thrive. But the mother did not long survive her 

 imprisonment. She very soon died, and the 

 young birds were left to the care of their owner. 



He contrived to keep them alive for some few 

 weeks after they reached England, in spite of the 

 coolness of the climate. One of the tiny gems 

 was petted by a lady, who allowed it to sip honey 

 from her lips. 



