202 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [April, 1888 



Mr. Mazyck read the following notes which had been prepared 

 by Mr. E. A. Smj^th, Jr., in reply to the letter from Mr. Alexander 

 which was read at the last meeting : 



I. The larger forms of Mantidm found in Africa, South America, and other 

 tropical countries occasionally feed upon small birds. Such cases have been 

 reported by many travellers and naturalists. But these species are some four 

 or live inches in length, and with seizing limbs powerful in proportion, so that 

 they exceed greatly in size and strength our Carohna Mantis. The incident 

 mentioned by Mr. Alexander is probably the first recorded where our mantis 

 has attempted to capture a bird. 



II. The Humming Bird, in its native state, is popularly supposed to live en- 

 tirely upon the nectar of flowers. That this is not whoUy true has been shown 

 by many observers and writers. Examining the structure of the tongue of the 

 Humming Bird, we find that, although it is tubular, and evidently intended 

 for suction, it is also barbed, in the manner of the tongues of birds which "use 

 that member for darting suddenly out and catching up small objects", and this 

 shows an adaptation for insect food. In support of which we find that Aud- 

 ubon asserts that Humming Birds eat minute insects ; Darwin, upon the dis- 

 section of many species from different quarters, found fragments of the wings 

 of minute flies, evidently gnats, in the stomachs of his specimens ; Wilson saj'^s 

 " I have seen the Humming Bird, ( T. colubris,) for fully half an hour at a 

 time, darting at those little groups of insects that dance in the air in a fine 

 summer evening : retiring to an adjourning twig to rest, and renewing the at- 

 tack with a dexterity that sets all other fly-catchers at defiance " ; and Bullock 

 relates that in Mexico, he has seen Humming Birds steal the half dead flies 

 caught in the webs of large spiders, and that too, at some evident risk to them- 

 selves. Cliarles W. Webber tells of several Humming Birds that he kept in 

 captivity, that their food was ordinarily an artificial syrup of sugar or honey 

 and water, which they sipped from a cup or from the corollas of flowers, where 

 it was placed for them, and which thej^ seemed to prefer to the natural nectar 

 of flowers: but that after a time they would regularlj-- seem drooping, and 

 when given their liberty, immediatelj"^ proceed to hunt and devour with avidity 

 small garden spiders, which they would pick from the webs, while on the wing, 

 so delicately as not to shake the web. Those who have kept Humming Birds 

 in captivity have fed them principally upon sugar or honey and water, and 

 also, as Azara and Wilson state, upon small insects attracted by and drowned 

 in the syrup. H:imining Birds are readily tamed and become easily reconciled 

 to captivity. Bdllock states that he "had nearl}^ seventy in cages, that no 

 bird was more easily reconciled to its new situation, and that by attention they 

 might easily have been brought to Europe ". Charles Peale, of Philadelphia, 

 reared two from the nest, which were so tame that they readily perched upon 

 the shoulders of Mrs. Peale. 



The following paper was read : 



