8428 



Notices of Neiv Books. 



bill through the gauze, protrude its lengthened tongue down the neck 

 of the bottle and pump up the fluid until it was satiated ; it would 

 then retire to the bottom of its little home, preen its wings and tail- 

 feathers, and seem quite content." 



In continuation of, and connection with, this subject the following 

 note is too interesting to be omitted. 



" The specimens I brought alive to this country were as docile and fear- 

 less as a great moth or any other insect would be under similar treatment. 

 The little cage in which they lived was twelve inches long by seven 

 inches wide, and eight inches high. In this was placed a diminutive 

 branch of a tree, and suspended to the side a glass phial, which I daily 

 supplied with saccharine matter, in the form of sugar or -honey and 

 water, with the addition of the yelk of an unboiled egg. Upou this 

 food they appeared to thrive and be happy during the voyage along 

 the sea-bord of America and across the Atlantic, until they arrived 

 within the influence of the climate of Europe. Off the western part 

 of Ireland symptoms of drooping unmistakeably exhibited themselves, 

 but although they never fully rallied, I succeeded in bringing one of 

 them alive to London, where it died on the second day after its arrival 

 at my house. The vessel in which I made the passage took a northerly 

 course, which carried us over the banks of Newfoundland, and although 

 the cold was rather severe during part of the time, the only effect it 

 appeared to have on my little pets was to induce a kind of torpidity, 

 from which, however, they were readily aroused by placing them in the 

 sunshine or in some warm situation, such as before a fire, in the 

 bosom, &c. I do assure my readers that I have seen these birds cold 

 and stiff and to all appearance dead, and that from this state they 

 were readily restored with a little attention and removal into light and 

 heat, when they would perk up, flutter their little wings, and feast 

 away upon their usual food as if in the best state of health." 



Truty a beautiful picture ! Shall we ever see these little creatures 

 introduced into our English or even European conservatories? The 

 temperature presents no difficulty, neither does the food ; transit 

 seems to have been overcome in Mr. Gould's instance, and certainly it 

 may be again. It would indeed be delightful to see these lovely crea- 

 tures ihomed in the Crystal Palace or the palm house at Kew ; but 

 perish the thought of caging them, -and denying them full scope for 

 the exercise of their restless wings. 



The Hamming Bird's Food and Beak. — " We find the humming 

 bird's bill greatly diversified in form, and that each of these variations 



