48 



cassell's book of birds. 



extreme south. During the course of its migrations it has been met with at an altitude of from 

 12,000 to 14,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



" Like others of its family," says Darwin, " it moves from place to place with a rapidity which 

 may be compared to that of the syrphus among dipterous insects, or sphinxes among moths ; but whilst 

 hovering over a flower it flaps its wings with a very slow and powerful movement, totally diftcrent 

 from that vibrating one common to most of the species which produces the humming noise. I 

 never saw any other bird whose force of wing appeared (as in a butterfly) so powerful in proportion 



THE GIANT HUMMING BIRD [Patagona gigas). 



to the weight of its body. When hovering by a flower its tail is constantly expanded and shut, like 

 a fan, the body being kept in a nearly vertical position. This action seems to steady and support 

 the bird between the slow movements of its wings. 



" This largest of all Humming Birds," observes Gould, " is said to be a bold and vigorous flier, 

 to be quick in all its actions, and tcf pass from flower to flower with the greatest rapidity ; not- 

 withstanding the breadth and volume of its wings, which would seem to be far better adapted for 

 lengthened and continuous progress than for poising in the air, which the bird is in the constant habit 

 of doing while visiting, with little choice, the summer flowers of the forest. It is stated that, unlike 

 the other members of the family, it may frequently be seen perched on some small tree or shrub." 



Mr. Gumming states that in Ghili the Patagona gigas is strictly migratory ; it arrives from the 



