Hamlims JEntag^rk JHagajin^ 
EDITED BY JOHN D. HAMLYN. 
No. 9.— Vol. 1. 
LONDON, JANUARY, 1915. 
PRICE ONE SHILLING. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
List of Subscribers, 
December 15th to January 10th, 1916. 
J. F. Dewar, 2, St. Patrick's Square, Edinburgh. 
Guy Falkner, Westbourne House, Belton. 
Fred Thorniley, 43, Belgrave Road, Failsworth. 
The subscription for Vol. I., Nos. 1 to 12, is 
6/- post free. Only specimen copies can be sent 
at 6d. each. All subscriptions commence with 
No. 1. The price of this January Number is 1/-, 
post free. 
I have still a few December numbers for sale, 
1/-, post free. This contains- the reproduction of 
a photograph taken at a Menagerie Sale in 1896. 
I might mention that over one hundred were sold, 
in addition to the regular subscribers. 
Negotiations are in progress to place this 
Magazine on sale at the various railway book- 
stalls. Articles are on hand and are promised by 
the Leading Collectors and Dealers throughout 
the world. Many subscribers are asking for per- 
sonal recollections and adventures. These will all 
appear in due course. They are only held over 
for want of space. 
The conclusion of the "Sette Cama Recollec- 
tions," containing the native description of the 
supposed Water Elephant, will appear in the Feb- 
ruary number. 
An account of the first arrival of the Gouldian 
Finch in Europe, 1885, with interesting particu- 
lars of the first consignment ever brought for .sale 
to Great Britain. 
Many interesting reproductions of old photo- 
graphs will appear from time to time. I have a 
collection of several hundred. 
Advertisements are inserted at very reason- 
able rates. 
If you have not already sent in your 6/- sub- 
scription, might I respectfully ask you to do so? 
JOHN D. HAMLYN. 
THE IMPORTATION OF HONEY- 
SUCKERS. 
By Frank Finn. 
The habit of living more or less on honey 
sucked from flowers is found in several groups of 
birds, and some of these have long been imported, 
namely, various species of Lories, which are honey 
sucking Parrots. The Honey-eaters (Meliphagi- 
dae) of Australasia have, also been brought over, 
but with the exception of the Tui of New Zealand, 
now, unfortunately, not to be had (the New Zea- 
land Government prohibiting the export of all 
native birds but the sheep-killing Kea Parrot and 
egg-stealing Weka Rail), none have "caught on" 
at all, most being too deficient in bright colour to 
win favour with the public, while they are also 
generally quite ordinary birds in general appear- 
ance and size. 
It is quite otherwise with- the Sun-birds and 
Humming birds, which are so generally very small 
in size and beautifully decorated with metallic 
plumage; these little creatures have always at- 
tracted much notice in their native countries, but 
have been little imported owing to their delicacy. 
The Humming-birds, which are purely American, 
have gained the highest reputation; they average 
far smaller than the Old-world Sun-birds, and, un- 
like them, have not the ordinary shape and move- 
ments of little tree-birds in general, but, as 
everybody knows, feed while hovering, like some 
insects. In fact, one of their French names is 
"Oiscau-mouche" (fly bird), and their flight is so 
completely fly-like that they can go backwards or 
sideways as easily as forwards, and their wings, 
when in action, are hardly visible, being moved 
so rapidly. But, unlike flies, they cannot travel 
on their feet; they must either perch or fly, so that 
if their plumage gets sticky with the syrup sup- 
plied them, their exercise is cut off altogether. 
In spite of this difficulty, Humming-birds 
were brought to Europe long before Sun-birds, as 
far as I know; even more, than a century ago, 
Latham has recorded that a hen of the Mango 
Humming-bird (Lampornis mango) was captured 
and brought on board a ship, with her nest and 
