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MANGO. 



pertinaceously (in one tone, and continuously,) for some time, I 

 could not help thinking, in defiance. In a few minutes, how- 

 ever, the Tbanished one returned, and began chirping no less 

 provokingly, which soon brought another chase and another 

 tussel. 



I am persuaded that these were hostile encounters, (both were 

 adult males,) for one seemed evidently afraid of the other, though 

 his high spirit would prompt a chirp of defiance; and when 

 resting after a battle I noticed that this one held his beak open, 

 as if panting. Sometimes they would suspend hostilities to suck 

 a few blossoms, but mutual proximity was sure to bring them 

 on again with the same result. In their tortuous and rapid 

 evolutions, the light from their ruby necks would now and then 

 flash in the sun with gem -like radiance; and as they now and 

 then hovered motionless, the broadly-expanded tail, whose outer 

 feathers are crimson purple, but when intercepting the sun's rays, 

 transmit orange-coloured light, added much to their beauty. 



A little Banana Quit, (a species of creeper or certliea, which 

 hops among the flowers and probes them, clinging in all positions,) 

 that was peeping among the blossoms in his own quiet way, 

 seemed now and then to look with surprise on the combatants; 

 but when one had driven his rival to a longer distance than 

 usual, the victor set upon the unoffending Quit, who soon yielded 

 the point, and retired, humbly enough to a neighbouring tree. 

 The war, for it was a thorough campaign, a succession of battles, 

 lasted fully an hour, and then I was called away from my post 

 of observation." 



This is, we believe, the only species of Humming Bird which 

 has been brought alive to England. Latham relates that a 

 female, with her nest and eggs, was taken by cutting off the 

 twig on which she sat, and brought on board a ship about to sail 

 from Jamaica. "The bird became sufficiently tame to suffer her- 

 self to be fed on honey and water during the passage, and hatched 

 two young ones. The mother, however, did not long survive, 

 but the young were brought to England, and continued some 

 time in the possession of Lady Hammond. The little creatures 

 readily took honey from the lips of their mistress, and though 

 one did not live long, the other survived at least two months 

 from the time of their arrival." 



