142 



THE WHITE-FOOTED ROCKET-TAIL. 



A 

 7 i- X'iSSt 



rr. 



V.^|p\v^ I 



' f\ \v\ s r\' t V^\b\\ -^CTN^X 



THE WHITE-FOOTED ROCKET-TAIL. 



food, which it procures from the highest trees, as well as from branches 

 near the ground. During its flight, it passes through the air with 

 arrow-like swiftness, the tail being carried in a horizontal position. 



Mr. Gosse gives the following interesting account of one of the many 

 attempts lie made to rear two young males of this beautiful species : 

 " The subjects of this experiment were not confined in a cage, but kept 

 in a room with doors and windows close shut. They were lively, but 

 not wild; playful towards each other, and tame with respect to myself, 

 sitting unrestrained for several seconds at a time on my finger. I 

 collected a few flowers, placed them in a vase on a higk shelf, and to 

 these they resorted immediately; but I soon found that they paid atten- 

 tion to none but a certain plant. I then went out and gathered a large 

 quantity of them, and was pleased to observe that on entering the room 

 one flew to my nosegay and sucked while I held it in my hand." 



