332 



CHILE. 



Sept. 1834. 



numbers, a little before the vernal equinox. It comes from 

 the parched deserts of the north, probably for the purpose 

 of breeding in Chile. When on the wing, the appearance of 

 this bird is singular. Like others of the genus, it moves 

 from place to place with a rapidity which may be compared 

 to that of Syrphus amongst diptera, and Sphinx among 

 moths ; but whilst hovering over a flower, it flaps its wings 

 with a very slow and powerful movement, totally diflferent 

 from that vibratory one common to most of the species, 

 which produces the humming noise. I never saw any other 

 bird, where the force of its wings appeared (as in a butterfly) 

 so powerful in proportion to the weight of its body. When 

 hovering by a flower, its tail is constantly expanded and 

 shut like a fan, the body being kept in a nearly vertical po- 

 sition. This action appears to steady and support the bird, 

 between the slow movements of its wings. Although flying 

 from flower to flower in search of food, its stomach generally 

 contained abundant remains of insects, which I suspect are 

 much more the object of its search than honey is. The note 

 of this species, like that of nearly the whole family, is ex- 

 tremely shrill. 



