It II' 



VERTEBRATA. 



THP SOUI-MANGA AND ITS NEST. 



in soarcli of the uiinutc insects always found in such situations ; they will also pick small spiders 

 from their webs, and insects from the crevices of the walls and trees. They are said also to sub- 

 sist partly on the juices of flowers, whence the name of Sucriers or Sugar-Birds, applied to them 

 by French authors. Some of them also feed upon fruits. Like the humming-birds, they are ex- 

 ceedino-ly quarrelsome, fighting violently for the possession of a flower, the vanquished bird re- 

 treating from the spot with shrill cries, while the conqueror takes up his position upon a flower 

 or stem, and swinging his little body to and fro, pours out a note of triumph. The song is said 

 to be very agreeable. 



An interesting species is the Soui-Manga, S. ctjnniris, its metallic colors shining with the most 

 intense brilliancy. It makes its nest with great art on trees and shrubs. The nests of two oth^r 

 species, jVectarinia Lotenia and N. Asiatka, as described by Mr. Layard, are elegant domed struc- 

 tures, generally suspended from the extremity of a twig of some low bush, and artfully covered 

 with cobweb. In this, Mr. Layard says, he has often seen the spider still weaving her toils, thus 

 rendering the deception still more eff"ective; and it would seem that the birds were aware of it, 

 and left their helper undisturbed. The entrance to the nest is usually turned toward the inte- 

 rior of the bush, and is sheltered from the sun and rain by a sort of portico, which often projects 

 more than an inch from the walls. In this snug tenement the little sun-birds lay from two to 

 four eggs, which are of a whitish color, closely covered with minute, dusky spots, so that their 

 general color appears gray. 



THE TROCHILID^ OR HUMMING-BIRDS. 



These birds, peculiar to the American continent, have excited the liveliest interest in every 

 observer. There are more than three hundred distinct species, varying considerably in size : the 

 Ruby-throated Humming-Bird, which is most commonly known in the United States, is three inches 

 and a half long, and is about the medium size ; the Giant Humming-Bird of Brazil is of the di- 

 mensions of the purple martin or chimney-swallow ; several species are not larger than beetles. 

 They vary also in form, some being robust and some slender ; some having bills of enormous 



