64 cassell's book of birds. 



Sips with inserted tube the honied blooms, 

 And cliirps his gratitude as round he roams ; 

 While richest roses, though in crimson dresl, 

 Shrinlc from tlie splendour of liis gorgeous breast 

 What lieavenly tints in mingling radiance fly I 

 Each rapid movement gives a different dye — 

 Like scales of burnished gold, they dazzling show ; 

 Now sink to shade, now like a furnace glow." 



The following very interesting account of the demeanour of tliis delicate and interesting bird in 

 captivity is given by Gould : — "A Trochilus colubris captured for me by some friends pumped the 

 fluid from a little bottle whenever offered it, and in this manner it lived with me a constant 

 companion for several days, travelling in a little, thin gauze bag, distended with whalebone, and 

 suspended to a button of my coat. It was only necessary for me to take the bottle in my hand to 

 induce it to thrust its spiny bill through the gauze, protrude its lengthened tongue down the neck 

 of the bottle, and pump up the fluid till it was satiated ; it would then fly to the bottom of its little 

 home, preen its tail and wing feathers, and seem quite content. 



" The specimens I brought alive to this country were as docile and fearless as a great moth 

 under similar treattiient. The little cage in which they lived was twelve inches long, seven wide, and 

 eight high. In this was placed a diminutive twig, and suspended to the side a glass phial, which I daily 

 supplied with saccharine matter, in the form of sugar or honey and water, with the addition of the yolk 

 of an unboiled egg. Upon this food they appeared to thrive and be happy during the voyage along 

 the seaboard of America and across the Atlantic, until they arrived within the influence of the climate 

 of Europe. The vessel in which I made the passage took a northern course, which carried us over the 

 banks of Newfoundland, and although the cold was rather severe during part of the time, the only 

 effect it appeared to have upon my little pets was to induce a kind of torpidity, from which they were 

 rapidly aroused by placing them in the sunshine, in the bosom, or near a fire. I do assure my 

 readers that I have seen these little creatures cold, stiff, and to all appearance dead, and that from 

 this state they were readily restored by a little attention and removal into light and heat, when they 

 would ' peck up,' flutter their tiny wings, and feast away as if in the best state of health." 



The AMETHYST HUMMING BIRDS {Calliphlox) have a delicate, pointed beak, exceeding 

 the head in length ; the legs are slender and the toes and claws short, the latter much hooked and 

 sharply pointed. The wngs are short ; the tail of the male, composed of narrow feathers, is forked at 

 its extremity, whilst that of the female is quite straight. 



THE AMETHYST HUMMING BIRD. 



The Amethyst Humming Bird {Calliphlox amethysiina) is numerously met with in the interior 

 of Brazil. This resplendent little bird is of a dark metallic green, shaded with pale gold on the back ; 

 the neck, cheeks, and throat glow with the brilliant hue of the amethyst, and are divided from the 

 under side by a line of pure white ; the breast and belly are blackish grey, shaded with copper-red, 

 the lower tail-covers are light grey, bordered with white, and the quills greyish brown, tinted with 

 violet. The centre tail-feathers are of a metallic green, and those at the exterior greyish brown. 

 The female has a white throat, and her tail edged with reddish yellow ; the young resemble their 

 mother. This species is three inches and one-third long and about the same in breadth ; the wing 

 measures one inch and a half, the tail of the male one inch and a quarter, while that of the female 

 does not exceed two-thirds of an inch. 



According to ]\Ir. Reeves, " the Amethyst inhabits the interior provinces of Bahia, Rio de 



