466 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



their excessive minuteness. The Creoles of the Antilles call them. 

 Murmurers ; the Spaniards Picaflores ; the Brazilians S/iupaflores, or 

 Flower-suckers ; finally, the Indians call these darlings Sunbeams. 

 Humming-birds are much sought after — not for their flesh, which 



Fig. 186,— -Nest of Ruby and Topaz Humming-bird. 



is valueless, from its minute quantity, but for their feathers ; ladies 

 turn these to various uses, making from them collars, pendants for the 

 ears, &c. Some of the Indian races which have been converted to 

 Christianity employ them to decorate the images of their favourite 

 saints. The Mexicans and Peruvians formerly trimmed mantle s;vvith 



