1874.] MR. WHITELY ON PERUVIAN HUMMING-BIRDS. 6/5 



4. Further Notes on Humming-birds collected in High Peru*. 

 By H. Whitely, C.M.Z.S. 



[Received November 13, 1874.] 



Lesbia nuna. 



This bird makes its appearance in this district of Peru about the 

 beginning of September, and stays some months. It is very rapid in 

 flight, and has a most beautiful appearance with the long tail-feathers 

 streaming out behind. If by chance two males meet, they fight with 

 great fury, rising higher and higher almost vertically till lost to sight. 

 Whilst the male is hovering over a flower, its tail is never spread 

 out ; but when wounded, it skims along the ground with the tail- 

 feathers stretched out to the greatest extent. It is a curious sight 

 to see one of these birds trying to pass from one spot to another a 

 long distance off in a straight line against a strong wind, which, acting 

 on the long tail-feathers, takes it a long way off from the place it 

 was trying to reach. Whilst perched, the two long tail-feathers are 

 a little separated. Very small insects seem to be the principal food 

 of this species, as I am convinced insects are of all other species and 

 genera of Humming-birds ; and the nectar of flowers is only partaken 

 of to assist digestion. Why has no Humming-bird been able to live 

 in England, where the cold does not exceed that of the sierras out 

 here at an elevation of 14,000 feet? Again, all other birds, as far 

 as my observation goes, take grit to help in the digestion of their 

 food ; but the Humming-bird does not ; therefore it must take some 

 equivalent. It is true Humming-birds may be kept for months on 

 sugar and water or honey and water ; but after that they commence 

 to droop and die off, evidently from the too stimulating nature of 

 the food. 



Acestrura mulsanti. 



This bird is found in the virgin forest on the eastern slopes of the 

 Andes, at an elevation of between 8000 and 9000 feet. 



It perches generally on the topmost branches of a dead tree of 

 great size, so that to the observer at the foot of the tree it appears 

 to be about the size of a bee. All of a sudden it flies off, and com- 

 mences to circle round and round, the same as a humble-bee ; the 

 circles become gradually larger and larger, till all at once it darts off 

 like a flash of lightning in the direction of the bunches of flowers 

 growing on the large creepers, where it remains hovering for a few 

 seconds, returning afterwards to its perch on the dead tree. Its food 

 must principally consist of very minute insects caught in the air : 

 and by this reason one may account for its remarkably formed tail ; 

 for if the two outer tail-feathers were long and broad it would be 

 impossible for the bird to make circles almost on its own axis, espe- 

 cially during a strong wind. 



* See P. Z. S. 1873, pp. 187 & 784. 



