INTRODUCTION 



XXV 



Humining-Birds is as singular as are the birds themselves. I believe that generally the eggs are two in 

 number, but I also think it likely that some of the Phaethormthes, or rather the members of the genus 

 Glaucis, occasionally lay but one ; for I have frequently seen only a single young bird in the nests sent to 

 this country, and this single bird generally filled up the entire space of the frail structure, which, as I have 

 before stated, is usually attached to the leaflet of a palm. The eggs are certainly large when we consider 

 the tiny size of the birds which produce them ; in shape they are oblong, nearly alike in form at both ends, 

 and are probably of a pinkish hue before their contents are removed ; after which they become of an opake 

 white, and so closely resemble bon-bons that they might easily be mistaken for them. The birds are said 

 to produce two broods a year; and the period of incubation generally occupies about twelve or fourteen, or, 

 according to Captain Lyon, eighteen days. This gentleman, when giving an account of some Humming. 

 Birds whose hatching and education he sedulously watched, as the nest was made in a little orange-bush by 

 the side of a frequented walk in his garden at Gongo Soco, in Brazil, states that the nest " was composed 

 of the silky down of a plant, and covered with a small flat species of yellow lichen. The first q^^ was laid 

 January 26th, the second on the 28th ; and two little creatures like bees made their appearance on the 

 morning of February 14th. As the young increased in size, the mother built her nest higher and higher. 

 The old bird sat very close during a continuance of heavy rain for several days and nights. The youno- 

 remained blind until February 28th, and flew on the morning of March 7th, without previous practice, 

 as strong and swiftly as the mother, taking their first dart from the nest to a tree about twenty yards 

 distant." 



Let me now mention one of the devices employed for the discovery of the nest of the Humming-Birds. 

 Every observer who has written upon them has not failed to descant upon their boldness and pugnacity. 

 Not only do they attack birds of much larger size than themselves, but it is even asserted that they will tilt 

 at the Eagle. if he approaches within the precincts of the nest ; nor is man exempt from their assaults, of 

 which an amusing instance will be found in the extract from Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley's 'Travels' 

 given on a subsequent page. 



It is this readiness for combat which is taken advantage of to find the nest and eggs ; and all that is 

 necessary is to tie a string to your hat, and wave it round your head, when, if a female be sitting in the 

 neighbourhood, the male will instantly come down upon you ; and by watching his return, the nest may be 

 detected. 



Many really absurd statements have been made as to the means by which these birds are obtained for our 

 cabinets. It is most frequently asserted that they are shot with water or with sand. Now, so far as I am aware, 

 these devices are never resorted to, but they are usually procured in the ordinary way, with numbers ten and 

 eleven shot, those being the sizes best suited for the purpose. If smaller shot be used, the plumage is very 

 frequently so cut and damaged that the specimen is rendered of little or no value. By far the greater 

 number fall to the clay ball of the blowpipe, which the Indians, and in some instances even Europeans use 

 with perfect certainty of aim. My friend Professor Jameson has a son who appears to be a proficient in 

 this mode of obtaining Humming-Birds, as I know that many of the specimens he has sent me have been 

 thus procured. 



In Brazil very fine nets are employed for this purpose ; but how these nets are used I am unable to state. 

 Unfortunately for me, many specimens of the fine species Cometes spargamrus in my possession have been 



H 



