rapidity of his flight, he can avoid the attacks of even the swiftest of
the larger race.

There is a remarkable circumstance connected with humming-birds,
especially in lofty regions, where they are more particularly
susceptible of electric influences. It is well known that in many
regions small birds are found killed after a thunder-storm, in
consequence of the amount of electricity in the air. The humming-birds,
as if conscious of this danger, build their nests of peculiar form, and
of materials which are bad conductors of electricity, within which they
are thoroughly protected. The nests of some are shaped like inverted
cones, tapering to a fine point--that, as is supposed, the electricity
which would destroy the delicate young ones, or the vitality of the
eggs, may pass off into the air.

Their notes are very feeble, rarely rising into a whistle. In one week
after they are hatched, the young birds are ready to fly, but they are
fed by their parents for nearly another week. Their plumage, however,
does not attain its full brilliancy till the succeeding spring.

But we must confine ourselves to the humming-birds of the Cordilleras,
on the western coast.

SWORD-BILL HUMMING-BIRD.

At the north of the range, between Santa Fe de Bogota and Quito, at an
elevation often of 12,000 feet, is found the sword-bill humming-bird.
Its name is derived from the length of its beak, which is nearly as long
as its body, and enables it to seek its food from the long pendent
corollas of the Brugmansae. Nothing can exceed the elegance of its
movements as it probes the pendent blossoms, searching to their inmost
depths. Its nest, woven with wonderful skill and beauty of
construction, is fastened to the end of a twig. The head and upper part
of the body of the male bird are green, glossed with gold in some parts,
and with bronze in others. The wings are dark black-brown, with a
purple gloss; while the tail is dark black, the upper surface being
bronzed. A conspicuous white, slightly elongated spot exists behind
each eye, and on each side of the chest there is a broad crescent-shaped
mark of light green. The under parts are of a bronzed green, and the
under tail-coverts are flaked with a little white.

COPPER-BELLIED PUFF-LEG.

In the neighbourhood of Santa Fe, another very beautiful and curious
little bird, the copper-bellied puff-leg, is found, at an elevation of
about 9000 feet. (Unlike the greater number of birds, th