The Hijlory of BookL 



There are of thefe Birds feen in moft of the Caribby Iflands, 

 but according to the diverfity of the Iflands they alfo differ as 

 to bignefs and plumage : The moft beautiful and lead: as to 

 bulk are in the \{\mdo£Arnba > which depends on the Dutch 

 Colony at Corajfao. 



It might haply be here expected we fhould fpeak of the fing- 

 ing of this Bird 5 and that having entertain'd the fight with its 

 beauty^ and the fmelling with its fcent, it fhould alfo fatisfie the 

 ear with its harmonious mufick : Some affirm that there is a 

 kind of them that fings at a certain feafon of the year : But it is 

 probable that what is called the finging of the Colibry^ is only 

 a little noife like that of the Cigale , which is always the fame 

 note. But though it fhould not fing at all, it is endued with fo 

 many other extraordinary advantages of Nature, that it may 

 be ranked among the moft beautiful, and moft excellent of 

 Birds. 



Thofe who have liv'd at Brafil do unanimoufly affirm, that 

 there is in thofe parts a little Bird called Gonambuch^ of a mi- 

 ning white colour, whofe body is no bigger then that of a Hor- 

 net, and as to a clear and diftincl: note is nothing inferiour to 

 the Nightingale : It's poflible it may be a kind oiColibry, as in- 

 deed fome do make it , yet is it not comparable, either as to 

 beauty of feathers or fcent, and other tranfcendent qualities, to 

 that whofe defcription we nave here made. 



Thofe have come neerer the mark who have affirmed that 

 this mafter-piece of Nature is a kind of thofe little Birds, which 

 fome Indians call Guaraciaba, or Guacariga 0 that is to fay, Sun- 

 beam, and Guaracigaba, that is, Hair of the Sun: The Spani- 

 ards call it Tomineios i forafmuch as having put one of them 

 with his neft into a pair of Scales wherewith gold is weigh'd, 

 it commonly weighs not above two of thofe little weights, 

 which the fame Spaniards call Tominos, that is, four and twen- 

 ty grains. 



Some have been of opinion that fome of thefe excellent Co- 

 libris were at firft Flies, which were afterwards transform'd 

 into Birds : Others have written that the Caribbians called 

 thefe Birds Renati, or New-born, becaufe they deep one half 

 of the year, as the Dormice do, and that they awake in the 

 Spring, recovering as it were a new life with that delightful 

 feafon of the year : Nay there are fome affirm, that when the 

 leaves fall they thruft their little beaks into the trunks of the 

 Trees, and there remain immoveable, and as it were dead, for 

 fix moneths, till the earth puts on a new livery of flowers : But 

 thefLare frivolous ftories grounded on conjectures, which may 

 be touch'd by the way, but not admitted to any competion 

 with the true account we give of our Colibry. 



We will conclude this Chapter with a thing worthy obfer- 

 vation, which yet happens not in other parts, unlefs haply in 



Guiny, 



