3? z ~ An iITTEVipIX. 



green, and of a Peacock colour, like forfhape to the leaves of Flower-de-luce 3 and 

 covered above with other black ones, but beneath and where they touch the Pea- 

 cock-coloured or purple ones, (which are in the middle) inclining to green, as if 

 nature took care of the beauty of the middle feathers. The Creft confifts of filming 

 and very beautiful feathers. The Breaft and Neck underneath are covered with a 

 red and mining Plumage 3 and with a purple \_pavonina ~] as is alfo the Back and the 

 fides under the Wings, and the Belly between the Legs 5 but the feathers in this laft 

 place are of a fainter colour, (lender, and foft. The feathers of the Wings are very- 

 long, tinctured with a dilute green, and ending in (harp points. The feathers grow- 

 ing on the moulders are green, but black underneath 3 but thofe between the Wings 

 * The word are fomething crooked, and of the colour of the * Claws. The feathers of this Bird 

 is unguium, it are highly efteemed among the Indians, and preferred even before Gold it (elf, the 

 Author may longer ones for crefts, and other ornaments both of the head and whole body, both 

 mean humane for War and Peace : But the reft for fetting in feather-works, and composing the fi- 

 gures of Saints and other things 3 which they are fo skilful in doing, as not td fall (hoit 

 of the mod artificial Pictures drawn in colours. For this purpofe they alfo make ufe- 

 of, and mingle and weave in together with thefe the feathers of the humming bird. 

 Thefe Birds live in the Province of Tecolotlan beyond ^uauhtemallam towards Hon- 

 duras, where great care is taken that no man kill them : Only it is lawful to pluck off 

 their feathers, and fo let them go naked j yet not for all men indifferently, but only 

 for the Lords and Proprietors of them 3 for they defcend to the Heirs as rich poflef- 

 lions. Fr. Hernandez in fome pretermitted annotations adds concerning the manner 

 of taking thefe Birds fome things worth the knowing. The Fowlers ( faith he ) be- 

 take themfelves to the Mountains, and there hiding themfelves in fmall Cottages, 

 icatterup and down bo\Yd Indian Wheat, and prick down in the ground many rods 

 befmeared with Birdlime, wherewith theBirds intangled become their prey. They 

 fly in flocks among trees, on which they are wont to fit, making no unpleafant noife 

 with their whittling and finging in confort. They have by the inftincl: of nature fuch 

 knowledge of their riches, that once flicking to the Birdlime, they remain frill and 

 quiet, not ftruglingatall, that they may not mar or injure their feathers. The beauty 

 whereof they are To in love with, that they chufe rather to betaken and killed, than 

 by endeavouring to get their liberty do any thing that may deface or prejudice them. 

 They are faid to pick holes in trees, and therein to build and breed up their Young. 

 * I fuppofe They feed upon Worms, and certain wild * Pinna, of that fort which the Mexicans 

 th ? s J ord j? are wont to call Matzatli. They love the open air, nor hath it been yet found, that 

 what pinnf r ever tne Y would be kept tame, or brought up in houfes. They make a noife not much 

 fyiveftm mean unlike Parrots : But they have a chearful and pleafant whittle* and they ling thrice a 

 1 know not. ^^ tQ w ^ m ^ ^{ n\mg, at Noon, arid about Sun-fet. 



Next to the Quetzaltototl the Tzinitzian is molt efteemed. It is a fmall bird, almoft 

 as big as a Dove, clothed with feathers of many colours, with which the Natives com- 

 pofe Images and Figures of wonderful fubtilty and curiofity : For from this artifice they 

 are become known and famous all the world over. Thefe they ufe and make fhew of 

 on Feaft days, in War, in their Temples, and public Merriments and Dancings. Its 

 Bill is fhort, crooked, and pale } its Head and Neck like a Doves, but covered with 

 green and (tuning feathers. Its Breaft and Belly are red, excepting that part which is 

 next the Tail: For that is died with blue and white promifcuoufly.ItsTail green above, 

 and black underneath: Its Wings partly white,and partly black. The Irk of its Eye is 

 yellow, but inclining tofcarlet : The Legs and Feet cinereous. It lives in hot Coun- 

 tries near the Southern Ocean. It is nourifhed up in Cages, and fed with fruits. It is 

 as beautiful and lovely a Bird as any is, but neither doth it fing, nor is its flefh ( that I 

 know of) good. 



Totoquejial alfo ( as Antonius Herrera writes ) is a lefler-fized bird than a Pigeon, all 

 over green. The feathers of its Tail are very long, highly prized, and a fpecial 

 commodity ufed in commerce. It was a capital crime to kill this bird j wherefore they 

 only pluckt it, and let it go. 



Of the Thru/lies of Chiappa and Artificer- Sparrows. 



T Here is a fort of Thrufl:es found in Chiappa, which they cz]\ Artificer-Sparrows. 

 They are black only on the Breaft,and red on the Head. They feed only upon 

 Acorns.With their Bill they perforate the barks of Pine-trees, and in each hole fitly ac- 

 commodate or (tick in an acorn,fo that by the hand it cannot be pluckt outjand fo very 



elegantly 



