hummingbirds (see Hunn, attestations)
HUĪTZITZIL-I/HUĪTZITZIL-IN/HUĪTZIL-IN, hummingbirds (Trochilidae) [FC: 24 Vitzitzili] “The bill is black, slender, small and pointed, needle-pointed, needle-like. In shrubs, in trees it makes itself a nest, it lays eggs, sits, hatches its young. It has only two eggs; its young are rare. Its food is flower honey, flower nectar. It is whirring, active [in flight]; ashen in color…. It flies, darts, chirps. In the winter it hibernates. It inserts its bill in a tree; [hanging] there it shrinks, shrivels, molts.” Despite the misapprehension with regard to hibernations and rejuvenation, this is no doubt a general term for the Núm.us species of hummingbirds of Central Mexico. Regional dialect variants include HUITZACATZIN [Xalitsa], HUĪTZĪQUI-TZIN [Zacapoaxtla], HUĪTZTZĪTZIQUIH [Tetelcingo], all noted in Karttunen). This term serves as the generic head term for 10 distinct kinds of hummingbirds (of 11 recognized and named). The specific kinds of hummingbirds are rarely described in sufficient detail to allow for positive identification, and I find several of Martin del Campo’s guesses to be wide of the mark. I believe it is best to leave several unspecified. See also AYOPAL-HUĪTZIL-IN, CHALCHI-HUĪTZIL-IN, CUAPPACH-HUĪTZIL-IN, ECA-HUĪTZIL-IN, QUETZAL-HUĪTZIL-IN, TELOLO-HUĪTZIL-IN, TLAPAL-HUĪTZIL-IN, TLE-HUĪTZIL-IN, TOTOZCATLE-TON, XI-HUĪTZITZIL-IN, YAUHTIC HUĪTZIL-IN.
Cujx ixqujch qujtta in vitzitziltzin. Iquac mjtoa: intla ce tlaxcalli, anoҫo itla qualonj tictomamaca tepitzitzin: auh intla aca qujtoa: ҫan tepiton in oannechmacaque: njman ic onmonanqujlia. Cujx ixqujch qujtta in vitzitziltzin. Ca in vitzitziltzin cenca ҫan pitzaton in jten: in jquac qujchichina tepiton xuchitl, cenca ҫan no achiton, in conchichina necutli = Doth the hummingbird find everything? It is said at this time: if we distribute among ourselves a small tortilla or a little of something to eat, and if someone says: "Ye have given me but little," then he is answered: "Doth the hummingbird find everything?" For the hummingbird's beak is very small. When it sucks the little blossom, the nectar which it sucks is also very little. (central Mexico, sixteenth century)
Cujx ixqujch qujtta in vitzitziltzin. Iquac mjtoa: intla ce tlaxcalli, anoҫo itla qualonj tictomamaca tepitzitzin: auh intla aca qujtoa: ҫan tepiton in oannechmacaque: njman ic onmonanqujlia. Cujx ixqujch qujtta in vitzitziltzin. Ca in vitzitziltzin cenca ҫan pitzaton in jten: in jquac qujchichina tepiton xuchitl, cenca ҫan no achiton, in conchichina necutli = Malcontentadizo. Este refran se dize: de aquel que no se contenta con lo que le dan o con lo que le cupo sino que murmura porque no le dieron mas a este se le responde por cierto con mucho menos que esso se contẽta el paxarito zinzon dizesse por uja de mofa (centro de Mexico, s. XVII)