THE SEARCHERS. 



49 



north in August, and after spending three months in that country, during which time it breeds, 

 returns to whence it came. The nest is a somewhat large, cup-shaped structure, composed of mosses, 

 lichens, and similar materials, put together with cobwebs, and placed in the fork of the branch of 

 some tree or shrub, generally on ope overhanging a turbulent stream of water. It lays two eggs, 

 which are white, and about three-quarters of an inch from end to end. 



THE SWORD-BILL HUMMING BIRD (Docimastcs aisi/i/). 



THE SWORD-BILL HUMMING BIRD. 

 The Sword-bill Hujiming Bird {Docitnastes cnsifa-) cannot possibly be mistaken for any 

 other species, owing to the extraordinary size of the slightly-curved beak, which fully equals the 

 entire body in length ; the wing is short and broad, and thn very decidedly forked tail of medium 

 size. The entire mantle is of a beautiful mineral green ; the head copper-red ; the throat, centre of 

 breast, and under side of a greenish bronze, which shades into light green at the sides. A small 

 VOL. III. — 86 



