The Humming-birds in Jamaica do not confine themselves to any
particular season for nidification. In almost every month of the year
I have either found, or have had brought to me, the nests of Polytmus
in occupation. Still as far as my experience goes, they are most
numerous in June; while Mr. Hill considers January as the most normal
period. It is not improbable that two broods are reared in a season.
In the latter part of February, a friend showed me a nest of this
species in a singular situation, but which I afterwards found to be
quite in accordance with its usual habits. It was at Bognie, situated
on the Bluefields mountain, but at some distance from the scene above
described. About a quarter of a mile within the woods, a blind path,
choked up with bushes, descends suddenly beneath an overhanging rock of
limestone, the face of which presents large projections, and hanging
points, encrusted with a rough, tuberculous sort of stalactite. At one
corner of the bottom there is a cavern, in which a tub is fixed to
receive water of great purity, which perpetually drips from the roof,
and which in the dry season is a most valuable resource. Beyond this,
which is very obscure, the eye penetrates to a larger area, deeper
still, which receives light from some other communication with the air.
Round the projections and groins of the front, the roots of the trees
above have entwined, and to a fibre of one of these hanging down, not
thicker than whipcord, was suspended a Humming-bird’s nest, containing
two eggs. It seemed to be composed wholly of moss, was thick, and
attached to the rootlet by its side. One of the eggs was broken. I
did not disturb it, but after about three weeks, visited it again. It
had been apparently handled by some curious child, for both eggs were
broken, and the nest was evidently deserted.
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