abundant. They are all remarkable for two peculiarities, the first being the form of the tail, which is regularly graduated, the two central feathers being the longest, and the others diminishing on either side. The second peculiarity is, that the two sexes are nearly alike in their coloring, contrary to the usual custom among humming-birds, the male of which is generally brilliantly clad, and the female quite plain and sombre. All those Hermits whose habitation is known build a curiously-formed nest, funnelshaped, and attached to the end of some drooping leaf.

The example which has been chosen for illustration affords a good idea of the form which is generally followed, and, as may be at once seen, closely resembles that of the fan-tailed warbler, which has already been described.

The nest which is here figured was attached to the very extremity of the leaf, so that the long tail hung down freely. The materials of which it was composed were the silky fibres of plants, the cotton-like down of seed-vessels, and some other substance, which is supposed to be fungus, and is of a woolly texture. All these materials were interwoven with spider's-web, by means of which the nest was attached to the leaf at the end of which it swings. The bird almost invariably chooses some dicotyledonous leaf for its pendent home.

Other nests made by birds of the same genus are worthy of a passing mention.

First, there is the pretty nest of the GRAY-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis griseogularis), a very tiny bird, of comparatively sober plumage, reddish-brown being the predominant hue. This species is found in Ecuador, and is seen at an elevation of six thousand feet above the level of the sea. Indeed, the depth of cold which these fragile little beings can endure is really surprising, many species being found only on the highest mountains, and one bird, the Chimborazian Hill Star, inhabiting a zone that is never less than twelve thousand feet, and seldom more than sixteen thousand, above the level of the sea. Immediately above the last-mentioned elevation the line of perpetual snow begins, and, though the bird can exist just below it, the absence of vegetation prevents it overpassing that line.

The nest of the Gray-throated Hermit is made of moss fibres and the same silken threads that have already been mentioned, and is fastened to a leaf. It does not, however, hang from the extremity, but is fastened against the side of the leaf, and its tail,

if we may so call the lengthened appendage, is not free, but attached to the leaf in the same manner as the nest.

Another species, Phaethornis Eurynome, makes its nest of the tendrils of certain creepers, together with delicate root fibres, and attaches it to the leaf of some palm by means of cobwebs.

Our last example of this group is the tiny species called the PIGMY HERMIT (Phaethornis pygmaeus), a pretty little creature, though scarcely a brilliant one, and decorated with green-bronze above and warm red below. The nest of this species is fastened to a leaf, like that of the gray-throated hermit, and is also deep and cup-shaped, with an appendage so long as to give the whole nest a shape resembling that of a funnel. It is remarkable for the great use of which this little architect makes of seeds, the exterior being covered with downy seeds, and the interior lined with similar down, and the delicate fibres of flowering plants.

THE reader will remember that on page 248 it was mentioned that the general form of the nest made by the white-shafted fantail was similar to that constructed by one of the humming-birds. The species in question is the Hylocharis cyaneus, and the nest resembles that of the fan-tailed warbler in two points; first, the manner in which it is suspended, and, next, the formation of the appendage. Instead of being fastened to the side of a leaf, as is the case with the habitations of the hermit humming-bird, this nest is placed upon a twig, so that it is supported by the cup, and the appendage hangs freely below. In other respects the nest is similar to those which have been described.

As the reader may like to know how the tiny architect achieves her graceful task, I introduce a passage wherein Mr. Gosse describes, with the vivacity of an eye-witness, the manner in which the female LONG-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD (Trochilus Polytmus) builds its pensile home. The nest is made of fine moss, cotton fibres, spiders'-web, and studded externally with lichens, and is one of the true pensiles, sometimes being found over water, and in one instance overhanging the sea waves, suspended to a twig of wild vine. The account is as follows:

"Suddenly I heard the whirr of a humming-bird, and on looking up I saw a female Polytmus hovering opposite the nest with a mass of silk-cotton in her beak. Deterred by the sight of me, she presently retired to a twig a few paces distant, on which she

sat. I immediately sank down among the rocks as gently as possible, and remained perfectly still. In a few seconds she came again, and, after hovering a moment, disappeared behind one of the projections, whence in a few seconds she emerged again and flew off. I then examined the place, and found, to my delight, a

new nest.

"I again sat down on the stones in front, where I could see the nest, not concealing myself, but remaining motionless, waiting for the bird's reappearance. I had not to wait long; a loud whirr, and there she was, suspended in the air before her nest. She soon espied me, and came within a foot of my eyes, hovering just in front of my face. I remained still, however, when I heard the whirring of another just above me, perhaps the mate, but I durst not look toward him, lest the turning of my head should frighten the female. In a minute or two the other was gone, and she alighted again on the twig, where she sat some little time preening her feathers, and apparently clearing her mouth from the cotton fibres, for she swiftly projected the tongue an inch and a half from the beak, continuing the same curve as that of the beak.

"When she arose it was to perform a very interesting action, for she flew to the face of the rock, which was thickly clothed with soft downy moss, and, hovering on the wing as if before a flower, began to pluck the moss until she had a large bunch of it in her beak. Then I saw her fly to the nest, and, having seated herself in it, proceeded to place the new materials, pressing, and arranging, and interweaving the whole with her beak, while she fashioned the cup-like form of the interior by the pressure of her white breast, moving round and round as she sat. My presence appeared to be no hinderance to her proceedings, although only a few feet distant; at length she left the place, and I left also."

The bird whose proceedings are thus vividly described is a lovely species, remarkable for the very great length of the two central tail-feathers, which are very narrow, and twice as long as the bird from the point of the beak to the root of the tail. They cross each other as the bird is at rest, and their color is deep purple-black. The rest of the plumage is most lovely, the upper parts being green, with a golden gloss, and the throat and lower parts emerald-green. The top of the head is deep velvet-like black, and surmounted with a small plume. These are the colors of the adult male, the female being without the two long feathers in the tail, the top of the head brown, and the throat and breast white, slightly speckled with green.

IN the accompanying illustration may be seen figures of the nests matle by three different species of humming-birds, each of which is remarkable for some peculiarity of structure, though they are all pensile.

The first of these nests is that which is made by the WHITESIDED HILL STAR (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus), a native of the Andes of Acoucagua, inhabiting a zone of very great elevation, seldom being seen less than ten thousand feet above the level of the sea. With the exception of a bright emerald-green gorget, it is rather a dull-colored bird, the prevailing hue being brown. The nest is shaped something like a hammock, not unlike that of the lanceolate honey-eater, described and figured on page 247, and is fastened, not to a twig, or a leaf, or a branch, but to the side of a rock, being suspended by one side, so as to leave the remainder free.

As is the case with the generality of humming-birds' nests, cobwebs are employed for the purpose of fastening the structure to the object to which it hangs. The materials of which the nest is made are chiefly moss, down, and feathers, the feathers being profusely stuck on the outside.

This is not the only humming-bird which hangs its nest from rocks, for the lovely SAPPHO COMET (Cometes sparganurus), sometimes called the BAR-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD, on account of the dark bars which cross its tail, has a similar custom.

This splendid bird inhabits Bolivia, and is a very familiar and bold little creature. The nest is made chiefly of vegetable fibres and moss, and furnished with a long appendage similar to those which are made by so many humming-birds, for no conceivable reason. The nest is lined with hair, probably that of the viscacha, one of the llamas, and is hung against tne side of a rock or a wall, sometimes being attached to the wall itself, but generally suspended from some twig or hanging root. The bird always selects some spot where the nest can be sheltered by an overhanging ledge of rock, probably because the very loose structure of the nest requires that some such precaution should be taken. The portion of the nest that rests against the wall is always looser than the remainder of the structure. There are two eggs, of a rather large size for humming-birds to lay, being about half an inch in length.

THE CHIMBORAZIAN HILL STAR (Oreotrochilus Chimborazo) also hangs its nest against perpendicular rocks.

This singular bird, like its congener, the White-throated Hill Star, prefers elevated situations, and is found at still higher altitudes. Specimens are never found less than twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea, and are frequently seen at the astonishing elevation of sixteen thousand feet, where it thrives in spite of the extreme cold which continually reigns and checks the magnificent flowering plants which are so plentiful toward the foot of the mountain. As may be seen from the name of the bird, it lives upon Chimborazo, and feeds upon the juices of the yellow Chuquiraqua insignis, an alpine plant with large blossoms.

It is not a brilliantly-colored bird, the general colors being pale dusky green, relieved by a splendid emerald patch upon the chest. The nest of the Chimborazian Hill Star is made chiefly of lichens, and is hung against the sides of some perpendicular rock, where it is sheltered by a shelf overhead. There is another Hill Star which much resembles this species, but does not possess the green patch on the throat. This species also inhabits a volcanic mountain, being confined within a narrow zone of some two hundred yards in width. It is a remarkable fact, that though this species,