SOUTH AMERICA. 
*273 
which measured thirty-two inches from wing to wing 
extended; but others, which I have since examined, 
have generally been from twenty to twenty-six 
inches in dimension. 
The large humming-bird, called by the Indians 
Karabimiti, invariably builds its nest in the slender 
branches of the trees which hang over the rivers and 
creeks. In appearance, it is like brown tanned 
leather, and without any particle of lining. The 
rim of the nest is doubled inwards, and I always 
conjectured that it had taken this shape, on account 
of the body of the bird pressing against it, while she 
was laying her eggs. But this was quite a wrong 
conjecture. Instinct has taught the bird to give it 
this shape, in order that the eggs may be prevented 
from rolling out. 
The trees on the river’s bank are particularly ex¬ 
posed to violent gusts of wind, and while I have 
been sitting in the canoe, and looking on, I have 
seen the slender branch of the tree which held the 
humming-bird’s nest so violently shaken, that the 
bottom of the inside of the nest has appeared, and 
had there been nothing at the rim to stop the eggs, 
they must inevitably have been jerked out into the 
water. I suspect the humming-bird never lays 
more than two eggs. I never found more than two 
in any of the many nests which have come in my 
way. The eggs were always white, without any 
spots on them. 
Probably travellers have erred in asserting that 
the monkeys of South America throw sticks and 
T 
FOURTH 
JOURNEY, 
The Ka¬ 
rabimiti. 
Monkeys. 
