HUMMING BIRDS
of Costa Rica 5

Hummingbirds Throughout
Central American History

When European settlers... first saw  tiny  hummingbirds, they  believed  that these little creatures... were a cross between an  insect  and a bird!   They  were enchanted by the magic way,
these little birds, glittered in the sun...  like dazzling sequins.

Soldiers and missionaries... in Central America and Mexico,
met Aztec Kings wearing cloaks, made entirely of hummingbird  skins.  Even Christopher Columbus... wrote about  the stunning  hummingbirds, in his diary.   He presented a "hummingbird skin"
as a gift, to the Pope in Rome.

The first biologist... to describe hummingbirds was Linnaeus,
who in 1758,  published accounts of eighteen species, in his  Systema Naturae.  In the nineteenth century, there  was a high 
demand for hummingbird skins, from  the rich and elite people
of Europe.

Thousands of hummingbirds were being killed, for their 
gem-like feathers, in Central and South America and shipped to  markets in London... where hummingbird skins  were  bought  for 
collections,  as well as to make  artificial flowers and other  ornaments.
 

American  bird  artist, John  James  Audubon,  said 
hummingbirds  were "glittering  garments  of  the  rainbow."
 

Mayan
Hummingbird Legend

Hummingbirds  are  found... only  in  the  western  hemisphere, 
so  they  are  not  present... in  the  traditional  fairy  tales,
legends, and  myths... of  European  and  African  Cultures.
There  are  rich    legends,  about  these  tiny  birds,  in  Mayan
and  Aztec culture.
 

Mayan  Hummingbird  legend... tells of  a  hummingbird,
that  would   pierce  the  tongue, of  ancient   Mayan  Kings. 
When  the  blood  was  sprinkled  on  sacred  scrolls  and 
burned,  divine  ancestors  would  appear  in  the  smoke.

Aztec
Hummingbird Legend

Aztec  Hummingbird  Legend... tells  of  a 
brave  warrior,  who was named  Huitzil, who  led 
the  Aztecs  to  a  new  land,  and  helped  them
to defend  it.

His  full  name... was  Huitzilopochtli,  meaning  
"hummingbird  from  the  left."   The "left"  is  in  the 
deep  south,  which  was  the  place of  the  spirit  world.

His  mother... was  Coatlicul.  She conceived him... 
from a ball of feathers,  that  fell from the sky.
 

Huitzil wore a helmet... which was in  the image,
of  a  giant  hummingbird.

In  fierce  battle...  Huitzil  was  killed.   His  body  vanished
and  an  exquisite  emerald  hummingbird,  whirred  up  from 
the  spot,  where  he  had  been  slain, to  inspire  his  people,
to  win the battle, after  Huitzil's  death,  he  became  a  god.

The  Aztecs   believed...  that   warriors  who  were 
slain  in battle,  would  rise  to  the  sky  and  orbit  the 
sun  for  four  years.
 

They  would  transform...  into  hummingbirds. 
In  the  afterlife, these  hummingbird  gods, would  feed 
on  the  bright  flowers, in  the  gardens  of  paradise, 
while  reenacting from  time  to  time, 
in  mock  aerial  battles...
their  ancient  traditions.
 

At  night... these  hummingbird  gods,
became  warriors  again and  would  follow  Huitzil,
dispelling  the  evil  powers of  the  darkness
and  restoring  warmth  and  light.

As  morning  came...  the  hummingbird  gods
would  dance  in  a  flurry.  The  sun  rewarded  them,
by  endowing  them... with  glittering  rainbow  wings.

*If you have found these graphics fun & rewarding,
we would appreciate a reciprocal link on your link site.
We will gladly include your website, on our Birding Links Page.
Thank you in advance. Link Information is below:

Title:  Costa Rica Birding Directory

Description:  Tropical Bird Delight!  Birds of Costa Rica,
Tropical bird care & breeding, Bird Clipart &  Animations.

Website Url:  http://www.strayreality.com/birdingdirectory.htm

Email:  lani@strayreality.com

Humming Birds of Costa Rica 6
Humming Birds, Hummingbird Moths, Hummingbird
Hawk Moth, Sphinx Moths, Snowberry Clearwing Moth.