no Humming Bird at the Zoological Guldens.


survived. This bird lived for a fortnight in the Insect House, but, in spite

of every attention, succumbed during the recent damp foggy weather.


Captain Pam deserves the hearty congratulations of aviculturists for

his success, though this was far less than he deserved to achieve. Success

in importing these delicate denizens of the tropics is only to be attained as

the result of infinite pains and unremitting attention to their every need

during the voyage home.


Although this is the first living Humming Bird to reach the

Zoological Gardens others have reached England. Gould, the great orni¬

thologist who wrote a magnificent monograph on this group of birds,

•crossed the Atlantic in 1S57 in a sailing ship with a pair of the North

American Ruby-tliroated species (Trochilus colubris). One died just before

reaching land, while the other lived two or three days in London.


There is an earlier record given by Latham, that all practical avi¬

culturists will accept with reserve. He states that a female Humming Bird

was discovered sitting on its nest and eggs in Jamaica. The nest, eggs and

sitting bird were removed bodily to a ship bound for England, 011 which

the bird hatched and reared her brood of two, both of which reached

England alive and survived for some time !


Again another record is reported by Mr. Pocock in the Field of Dec¬

ember 9th, iS . He writes: “ .Since the question of the importation Hum¬

ming Birds is under discussion it seem a pity not to record the fact that in

July, 1S94, eleven specimens of Trochilus cornutus, which I presume to be

the Heliactin cornuta of Sclater and Salviu’s list, were brought over on the

s.s. Nile and bought by Mr. Arthur W. Arrowsmith, who sold them to the

late Mr. Erskine Allon, of Gray’s Inn.”


Yet another case has come under my notice: The Rev. Hubert D.

Astley wrote to me to say that the late Mr. Cholmondeley of Coudover in

Shropshire had a number of Humming Birds alive many years ago. I

therefore wrote to Miss Mary Cholmondeley', the well-known authoress,

asking if she could give me any information on the subject and if there was

any doubt as to their being genuine Humming Birds, and she has most

kindly sent me the following particulars. She writes: “My only regret is

that I can give you but little information respecting the Humming Birds

which my uncle, the late Mr. Cholmondeley of Coudover imported in large

numbers.


“ My father, the Rev. R. H. Cholmondeley, brother to Mr. Cholmondeley

of Coudover, remembers the importation. We believe them to have been

genuine Humming Birds—on this point we have never had any doubt.

They mostly either died on the journey' or soon after arrival. One of my

sisters remembers seeing some of them alive at Coudover, but only for a

short time.


“ ’1 he great difficulty' was the food. I have heard my uncle speak of

that difficulty, but not of how he solved it. But as, in spite of repeated

trials the birds always died I fear he did not solve it.”



