CORA SHEAR-TAIL HUMMING-BIRD. 259 



it the musical name of Cora, a name very 

 common among the ladies of Peru. 



Years ago, Peru was an independent nation, 

 and governed by the Incas, who were priests as 

 well as princes. The Peruvians worshipped the 

 Sun, and had temples in his honour. And there 

 were maidens who were made priestesses of the 

 Sun, and were occupied in the idolatrous rites of 

 their religion, and in keeping alive the fires and 

 lamps upon the altars. 



Cora is the name given to one of these 

 maidens by a French author in a story he has 

 written, and the scene of which is laid in ancient 

 Peru. 



The Humming-Bird gets its title of Cora from 

 that story. 



