The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-16

A Beautiful Collection of Humming birds
From the Andes.

A Beautiful Collection OF Humming biros
From the Andes.
The latest acquisition to the museum
of the Academy Of Sciences, in San
Francisco, is gorgeous collection OF
stuffed hurlming birds exhibited by y.
Il. Baron. civil engineer, VINO mas maze
the single family Trochilidae,. or true
h,tmn1ing birds. lifelong study. Alter
securing most of the species iLhnbting
the United States and Mexico, he made
n collecting expedition into the Andes
mountains, where nearly two years were
spent in securing and preparing the
greater part of the charming exhibit
which now occupies a suitable place IN
the first gallery.
The birds are in box cases. having
glass front and papcred white inside,
which helps to light up their brilliant
hues. The thrty-two cases are each Tx
u inches and about 9 inches deep, and
contain in oil nearly 1000 specimens
and more than 100 different kinds. Three
species are usually represented in each
If the cases and are separated upon
into rchangeable blocks These blocks
contain sometimes as many "a dozen
individuals of one kind, but so displayed
as to give views of all characteristic
coIors and forms. The two upper in
dividuals upon block represent in each
instance the male ard the female of the
species. Below in some cases the nest
and eggs peculiar to the species are
shown. and in one nest two young birds
are waiting with open mouths, as they
do in life. for the nectar which the
parents bring mixed with minute insect
life to feed them.
The remarkable diversity in the size
and form of the bill and tail in the diff
ferent kinds at once attracts the visitor
attention when the first blush of admira-
ton for the brillii Mt and metallic lustre
of the cOlOrs is over.
Mr.. Baron explained the peculiaries of
some of the rarest species. The Little
Coquette, which is labelled 'Lophorns
strictolopus" in the collection, has a red
dish crest marked with polka dots of
black. They are very pugnacious," said
Mr.. Baron, especially during the nest
ing season, when the feathers are raised,
as shown in the stuffed specimens.
When flying the crest is folded back
ward. Another species which is much
larger, inhabiting the mountain of Chin
borazo, will attack every bird which
cares to venture within its territory.
The adaptability of the bill of the sickle
billed hummer TO take nectar or insects
from orchids or other flowers Of peculiar
shape is one of the most interesting facts
in nature, for not only is the bill curved
to enable il to enter the flower, but the
top of the head has become depressed
by pressure upon it until. through genera
tions, it has by the process of evolution
bee ONE a fixed character.
The long-billed humming-bird has 4
bill four or five inches long. which en-
abes the bearer to reach the bottom of
long, trumpet shaped flowers. Precisely
opposite to this wonderful development
is the bill of another species, which Is
no more than half an inch long. but this
does not trouble the pOssessor, for 1t
always alights to feed and often does so
on the ground in order to reach the small
alpine flowers of the Andes mountains
The racket tail is another peculiar Spe-
cies, having white dOwny puffs on the
legs, and tail with two long racket
shaped feathers.
The largest and smallest known spe-
cies are TO be seen. the former scarcely
resembling humming bird at all, and
having no brilliant colors. The flight of
the giant humming bird, too is unlike
that of others, being slow and futter-
ing. so that they more resemble large
swallows in life.
Mr.. Baron is an enthusiastic trochili-
dist, and contemplates making several
more expeditions to increase this collec-
ton. When in Guayaquil. Ecuador Mr..
Baron was the guest of the great war
rior Sheva. Chief of the Jivar0s, a tribe
living on the head waters of the Santiago
river. From the Chief he received aid
so necessary to naturalist in n foreign
country.
The principal collecting was done in
tn. higher mountains on both the east
end west slopes of the Andes, which
wore crossed and recrossed more than
fifty times.
There are more than 500 different
kinds of humming birds known to natu-
ralsts The family i, entirely confined
to the American continents, and reach
their greatest perfection and beauty in
the tropical countries. Only seventeen
kinds have been found within the United
States: at least half Of them are resi-
dents of other countries. The principal
or my of the South American humming
bird is the collector who obtains them
for millinery purposes. -Four years ago
100000 small birds, principally hnmmng
birds, were sold in ore week in Lon
don, and at one sale $1,000 skins were
sold at auction to satisfy the demands Of
the votaries of fashion. The scientific
rlan looks upon such awful sacrifice of
living gems as little short of wicked