He saw the birds several times dash at them with open bills, and pick them from their perch; so the question was decided--the humming-birds were insect-eaters.
After a while the female flew off to her nest, leaving the male still among the flowers.
The curiosity of the boys was now satisfied, and they were about to return to the tent, when Lucien suddenly made a motion, whispering the others to remain silent.

Francois first caught sight of the object which had caused this behaviour on the part of his brother, and then Basil saw it.

A hideous object it was! Crouching among the leaves, now crawling sideways, now making short springs, and then hiding itself, went a fearful-looking creature.

It was about the size of one of the birds, but far different in appearance.
Its body consisted of two pieces, joined about the middle, and covered all over with a reddish-brown wool or hair, that stood upright like bristles.

It had ten limbs--long, crooked, and covered with hair, like the body--two curved claw-like antennae or feelers in front, and two horns projecting behind, so that, but for the sharp fiery eyes of the creature, it would have been difficult to tell its head from its hinder part.