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pea, which the male and female cover alternately. 

 On the approach of winter, this little bird suspends 

 itself by its bill to a twig, and in this position falls 

 into a lethargic sleep, which continues the whole 

 season. This is the time when they are chiefly 

 taken, for when they are in full vigour it is almost 

 impossible to catch them. 



I have observed three species of this bird in Chili ; 

 the little, the blue-headed, and the crested humming- 

 bird. 



The little humming-bird (trochilus minimus) 

 weighs only two grains, and its prevailing colour is 

 â very brilliant green. 



The blue-headed humming-bird (trochilus cyano- 

 cephalus) has a tail thrice as long as its body, which 

 is of the size of a filbert; the bill is strait, pointed 

 and whitish ; the head is blue with a golden lustre ; 

 the back of a shining green ; the belly of a reddish 

 yellow ; and the wings blue, mottled with purple. 



The crested humming-bird (trochilus galeritus) 

 is the largest of these three kinds, and is a little less 

 than the European wren. Its bill is slightly curved, 

 and its head adorned with a small crest striped with 

 gold and purple ; its neck and back are green, the 

 large feathers of the wings and tail brown, spotted 

 with gold, and all the lower part of the body of a 

 changeable flame-colour. 



The siu (fringilla barbata) called by the Spaniards 

 gilghero, or the goldfinch, is nearly of the size and 

 form of the canary-bird. It has a strait, sharp-point- 

 ed, conical bill, which is white at the base and black 

 at the point. The male has a black velvety head^ 



