_Lampornis Mango._
_Trochilus mango_, +Linn.+
_Lampornis mango_, +Swains.+
[22] Length 5 inches to 5¹⁄₄, expanse 7¹⁄₈, tail 1³⁄₄, rictus
1²⁄₁₀, flexure 2⁹⁄₁₀, tarsus ¹⁄₄, middle toe ⁷⁄₂₀.
Irides, dark hazel; beak and feet black.
For what reason Linnæus applied the trivial name of Mango to this
Humming-bird I have no knowledge; that it could have no connexion with
the mango tree is evident, since that tree was not introduced into the
western world till long after his time. It was perhaps a native name.
It is not confined to Jamaica, but seems more widely spread than most
of these tiny birds. Lesson says, “The Mango inhabits Jamaica, and, as
it appears, not only the greater Antilles, but also Terra Firma, and
even, it is said, Brazil and Guiana.” Hence it has long been familiar
to naturalists. It is the Largest or Blackest Humming-bird of Sloane.
Lesson, in “Les Colibris,” has given no less than four figures of this
species in different ages, pl. xiii. to xv., but I cannot say much in
their praise.
The _Polythmus Mexicanus_ and _Polythmus Jamaicensis_ of Brisson,
both refer, without doubt, to the present bird. It is _le plastron
noir_ of Buffon. Whether _Trochilus gramineus_ of St. Domingo, which
has been supposed to represent this species in that sister island, is
really any thing more than a variety, I have no means of determining.
My valued friend Mr. Hill, in writing to me observes, “Buffon makes
his ‘_plastron noir_’ of Jamaica, common to Brazil and St. Domingo.
The compensatory bird in St. Domingo is much more green than Jamaica
specimens; i. e., with a less disposition to assume the violet and
purple in the changes of light, and with decidedly a less prevalence of
what Buffon designates the ‘beau noir velouté.’”
I may add that both the birds alluded to have been familiar to my
friend, from personal observation in both islands.
The appellation by which the Mango Humming-bird is familiarly known to
the negroes in the colony, is that of “Doctor bird,” which, however,
is sometimes applied also to Polytmus. It is thus explained by Mr.
Hill:—“In the old time, when costume was more observed than now,—the
black livery among the gayer and more brilliant Trochilidæ represented
the Doctor. It might with equal propriety have been the parson; but
parsons were less known than doctors, in the old times of the colony.”
Though occurring at all seasons, I have not found the Mango abundant
at any; it is, indeed, far less common than either _Polytmus_ or
_Humilis_. It affects the lowlands in preference to the mountains, and
open places rather than the deep woods; yet it is rarely seen to suck
the blossoms of herbs or shrubs, as Humilis does, but like Polytmus
hovers around blossoming trees. The bunch of blossom at the summit of
the pole-like papaw-tree (_Carica papaya_) is a favourite resort of
this species, particularly at sunset. This habit I observed and took
advantage of very soon after my arrival, for there was a fine male
papaw tree in profuse bloom close to the door at Bluefields, which the
Mango frequented. Wishing to keep these birds in captivity, I watched
at the tree one evening with a gauze ring-net in my hand, with which I
dashed at one, and though I missed my aim, the attempt so astonished
it, that it appeared to have lost its presence of mind, so to speak,
flitting hurriedly hither and thither for several seconds before it
flew away. The next evening, however, I was more successful. I took
my station, and remained quite still, the net being held up close to
an inviting bunch of blossom: the Humming-birds came near in their
course round the tree, sipped the surrounding blossoms, eyeing the net;
hung in the air for a moment in front of the fatal cluster without
touching it, and then, arrow-like, darted away. At length one, after
surveying the net, passed again round the tree; on approaching it the
second time, perceiving the strange object to be still unmoved, he took
courage, and began to suck. I quite trembled with hope: in an instant
the net was struck, and before I could see anything, the rustling of
his confined wings within the gauze told that the little beauty was
a captive. I brought him in triumph to the house and caged him; but
he was very restless, clinging to the sides and wires, and fluttering
violently about. The next morning, having gone out on an excursion for
a few hours, I found the poor bird on my return, dying, having beaten
himself to death. I never again took this species alive.
The sustenance of the Humming-birds is, I feel assured, derived
almost exclusively from insects. That they seek the nectar of flowers
I readily admit, and that they will eagerly take dissolved sugar or
diluted honey in captivity I also know; but that this would maintain
life, or at least vigour, I have great reasons for doubting, which I
shall mention in the history of the following species. I have dissected
numbers of each of our species, and have invariably found the little
stomach distended with a soft black substance, exactly like what we
see in the stomachs of the Warblers, which being put into clear water,
and examined with a lens, proves to be entirely composed of minute
insects. The interior of flowers is almost always inhabited by very
small insects, and it is I believe principally to pick out these that
the Humming-birds probe the tubular nectaries of blossoms. Wilson
has mentioned his having observed the Ruby-throat (_T. Colubris_)
pursuing flies on the wing. I also have witnessed the same thing in our
species, many times. I have seen the Mango, just before night fall,
fluttering round the top of a tree on which were no blossoms, and from
the manner in which it turned hither and thither, while hovering in a
perpendicular position, it was manifest that it was catching minute
insects. This species when flying often flirts and flutters the tail in
a peculiar manner, throwing it in as he hangs perpendicularly in mid
air, when the appearance of the broad lustrous feathers, expanded like
a fan, is particularly beautiful.
The pugnacity of the Humming-birds has been often spoken of; two of
the same species can rarely suck flowers from the same bush without a
rencontre. Mango, however, will even drive away another species, which
I have never observed the others to do. I once witnessed a combat
between two of the present species, which was prosecuted with much
pertinacity, and protracted to an unusual length. It was in the month
of April, when I was spending a few days at Phœnix Park, near Savanna
le Mar, the residence of my kind friend, Aaron Deleon, Esq. In the
garden were two trees, of the kind called the Malay apple (_Eugenia
Malaccensis_), one of which was but a yard or two from my window. The
genial influence of the spring rains had covered them with a profusion
of beautiful blossoms, each consisting of a multitude of crimson
stamens, with very minute petals; like bunches of crimson tassels; but
the leaf-buds were but just beginning to open. A Mango Humming-bird
had, every day, and all day long, been paying his devoirs to these
charming blossoms. On the morning to which I allude, another came, and
the manœuvres of these two tiny creatures became highly interesting.
They chased each other through the labyrinth of twigs and flowers,
till, an opportunity occurring, the one would dart with seeming fury
upon the other, and then, with a loud rustling of their wings, they
would twirl together, round and round, until they nearly came to the
earth. It was some time before I could see, with any distinctness, what
took place in these tussles; their twirlings were so rapid as to baffle
all attempts at discrimination. At length an encounter took place
pretty close to me, and I perceived that the beak of the one grasped
the beak of the other, and thus fastened, both whirled round and round
in their perpendicular descent, the point of contact being the centre
of the gyrations, till, when another second would have brought them
both on the ground, they separated, and the one chased the other for
about a hundred yards, and then returned in triumph to the tree, where,
perched on a lofty twig, he chirped monotonously and pertinaciously
for some time;—I could not help thinking, in defiance. In a few
minutes, however, the banished one returned, and began chirping no
less provokingly, which soon brought on another chase, and another
tussle. I am persuaded that these were hostile encounters, for one
seemed evidently afraid of the other, fleeing when the other pursued,
though his indomitable spirit would prompt the 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, that was peeping among
the blossoms in his own quiet way, seemed now and then to look with
surprise on the combatants; but when the 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 regular
succession of battles, lasted fully an hour, and then I was called away
from the post of observation. Both of the Humming-birds appeared to be
adult males. I have alluded to the preference which different species
appear to manifest, for different blossoms; I may add that I have
observed _Mellisuga humilis_ come and suck the flowers of a Cashew tree
(_Anacardium_), without noticing those of the Malay apple close by,
while Mango seems to despise the former for the latter.
The lustrous glow reflected from the sides of the neck of the
adult male, may be unperceived on a careless examination. In such
Humming-birds as I have examined, (perhaps in all,) the iridescence of
those portions of the plumage that are changeable, is splendid in the
ratio of the acuteness of the angle formed by the incident ray and the
reflected one. Thus the plumes of the neck of Mango appear to advantage
in a room with a single light, only when the beholder stands with his
back to the window, and has the bird before him and facing him. Then
the perpendicular band down the throat and breast, which seems composed
of the richest black velvet, is bounded on each side by a broad band
of glowing crimson, mingled with violet. It must be borne in mind,
that _some_ of the brilliant hues of Humming-birds are permanent, not
changeable colours.
I have never met with the nest of this species; but Sam informed me in
June that he had observed one near Morgan’s Bridge, in Westmoreland.
It was on a dead tree, and was placed _upon_ a twig, but being full
fifteen feet from the ground he could not examine it. He, however, saw
the Mango Humming-bird fly out of it, and presently return. A nest,
presented to me by my friend Mr. Hill, ticketed as that of Mango,
is now before me. It has evidently been constructed to stand upon a
horizontal twig, which the bottom has embraced. It is cylindrical
externally, the bottom being nearly flat. Its height is 1¹⁄₂ inch; its
external diameter a little more; its internal diameter about 1 inch;
the hollow, which is a little overhung by the margin, is cup-shaped,
about ⁷⁄₈ inch deep. It is composed almost entirely of the down of the
gigantic silk-cotton tree, (_Eriodendron anfractuosum_) intermixed at
the bottom with a little true cotton. The sides are tightly banded
round with the threads of spiders’ webs, very neatly put on, and the
whole exterior is studded with a minute whitish lichen, so profusely
as almost entirely to conceal the down, without at all injuring the
symmetry of the form. It is a most compact and beautiful little
structure.
The down of the cotton-tree is the material ordinarily chosen by
all our Humming-birds for the construction of their nests. The tree
attains a giant size and diameter, and throws out to a vast distance
its horizontal limbs, each equalling in its dimensions an ordinary
forest tree. It is one of the few in those tropical islands, which are
deciduous: the fierce blasts called “norths,” which prevail in January
and February, pouring down from the mountains, quickly lay it bare.
I have seen an enormous tree in full foliage, almost leafless in an
hour; the leaves filling the air, like flakes of snow in a driving
storm. While it is yet denuded, the pods appear at the ends of the
branches, resembling green walnuts: these ripen before the leaves bud,
and opening, give freedom to a mass of fine silky filamentous down,
which is borne away upon the wind. The filaments are so fine, that at
this season, April and May, they are imbibed with the air we breathe,
being almost impalpable, and are considered to aggravate pulmonary
affections. The tufts so scattered, the Humming-birds and others of the
feathered tribes, diligently collect, and that not only on the ground.
I have been amused to observe a Mango Humming-bird suspending himself
in the air, over against a puff of down, which was slowly borne along
upon a gentle breeze, picking at it and drawing filaments from it,
doubtless with a view to nest-building.