The Golden Snidget (Aurum incomprehensibilis) is the sole member of the Trochilidae family known to exist in the Old World. Like its New World cousins, A. incomprehensibilis is known by the general term 'hummingbird', due to the humming sound coming from rapid wing movements, eliciting a pleasant background susurration in the rare locales in which it dwells.

Physiology of A. incomprehensibilis has been studied for centuries, going back well before the current sports mania. The famed creator of the first synthetic golden snitch, Bowman Wright, studied the works of such master natural philosophers as Laird Rye-gin's Birds and Words (1212), Lun of Aticia's Collected Sketches of Avians and their Neighbors (1091) and of course, the tragically abbreviated En Kort Studie av Fugler i Flukt (by Trollman Grahm-jaw), also known as The Short Study of Birds in Flight. A brief synopsis of the creature is a necessary component to any review.

A. incomprehensibilis are capable of incredible feats of acceleration. More mundane forms of the Trochilidae family, despite weighing less than a knut's worth of dragon liver and incapable of filling a shot glass with its entire body, are able to exceed thirty miles per hour, and beat their wings at rates exceeding two hundred actions per second. Analysis performed by the Association des Oiseaux places the A. incomprehensibilis wing rate beyond that rapidity. Indeed, some experts are of the belief that A. incomprehensibilis takes advantage of the infamous Law of Displacement (see: Magical Laws, Assembled by Dr. Agonbeit), rendering it possible to position itself in two distinct locations at once.

Feeding habits of such a vigorous creature are of equal stature. A. incomprehensibilis consumes a high-caloric diet of insects, nectar, and the Dirigible Plum. Of all the components of the small bird's diet, this last is invaluable.

As those familiar with botany, the Dirigible Plum (Curabitur fructum) is a common member of the Roseaceae family, fruiting only in the presence of certain pollinating varieties of insect and bird (see: Vegetative Husbandry, by Lord M. Elven, 1433). An astute observer with a keen mind would quickly realize the relationship between A. incomprehensibilis and C. fructum, an almost symbiotic relationship that transcends our understanding of magic.

While wizards can, and often do, create artificial methods of propagation of C. fructum, the original source of the plant's reproduction needed a pollinator larger than standard insect vectors, a niche filled most admirably by A. incomprehensibilis.

The fruiting body of C. fructum contains what less-discerning tastes call a bitter, foul flavor. Connoisseurs will recognize this cognomen for what its true value includes: powerful flavors and an innate defensiveness shared with such botanical specimens as the coffee tree (Family: Rubiaceae) and the humble tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Both produce stimulants designed to repel predators, as does the Dirigible Plum.

A. incomprehensibilis consumes this fruit during mating and migration seasons, giving it a caloric content far in excess of what other fruits could give at this time. Other plants that produce at the needed times fail to provide sufficient quantities of sugar capable of sustaining the A. incomprehensibilis's active lifestyle, although they will prevent starvation.

Mating behavior of the A. incomprehensibilis exists much as other members of its family. Like their New World cousins, A. incomprehensibilis is territorial. It will chase any perceivable competitors at elevated velocities. Reliable evidence demonstrates a successful deterrence of creatures as large as hippogriffs and unicorns, stouthearted though they be. Of great use to A. incomprehensibilis is its incomparable speed; enraged, the tiny bird can travel at such speeds that witnesses report tiny waves of concussive force battering their eardrums. To the unsuspecting target of this unusual attack, it must seem as though a clap of thunder applied to their tympanic membranes.

After an elaborate series of dance-like sessions in the sky, both members of a mating pair create a nest no larger than a child's hand. Three to six eggs are laid, and incubated for two weeks; the female ensures constant temperature while the male delivers food and ensures predators are driven away. This task is by no means trivial on either part – the alteration of temperatures by more than three degrees will stunt young development, and the female must keep up a high body temperature, which requires a high-caloric diet.

Upon hatching, A. incomprehensibilis juveniles grow from hatchlings to young-adults in less than four weeks. This time of growth requires immense food-gathering prowess on the parts of both parents, whom must not only feed their young, but themselves as well. It is fortunate that their mating/hatching season coincides with the fruiting season of C. fructum indeed, as observed by Prof. S. Hard in his 2014 work, Rambling Rek of Rowling Tech.

Following their fledging, A. incomprehensibilis begin their next phase of young adulthood, acquiring sustenance and strengthening their wings. It should be noted that thirty percent of an adult A. incomprehensibilis's weight is found in its pectoral muscles, those responsible for flight. As such, it is of great importance to develop these organs for their next life stage.

Migration of the A. incomprehensibilis is a touchy subject amongst specialists. For many years it was believed that their migration routes traveled from northwestern Europe to South-Central Europe, and then down into Northern Africa. In the past two centuries, however, a smaller population has made identification markings easier to divine, revealing that the standard migration routes are of a different nature than believed.

While it is true that specimens have been observed travelling from as far as Scandinavia to Italy, the homogenic nature of the A. incomprehensibilis has deceived even trained professionals in this regard. In truth, there are seven known populations of A. incomprehensibilis living in and around Europe and Africa (a colony exists in the Brazilian rainforests, but is believed incapable of surviving the next twenty years). Each population possesses its own distinct migration route, three of which incorporate the shores of Malta as a stopping grounds amongst the plenteous C. fructum growing therein.

This second fruiting period amongst C. fructum is of admirable timing, during the cooler period of the Tropics region (and hence, the rainier portions). Here most specialists lose track of A. incomprehensibilis, and must resort to educated guesswork as to the nature of their time away from the continent.

Returning to the history of the Golden Snidget, we can trace its discovery back to the 5th century BC. The original manuscript detailing a sport involving specimens is known to have required what was called a 'Flying Drachma' for the purposes of an activity which has, with great misfortune, been lost to history. The scrap of parchment recorded states thus:

"… One Creature of Such Speed as to dazzle the eyes, and of such color as to befuddle the practices of The Sport. Only those of breeding age are acceptable in the release of The Sport, and those so brought to bear on the field must be given treatments to prevent their departure from the Field of Play…."

In later years the A. incomprehensibilis became popular in multiple sports, for its flashing colors and rapid movements. Wizards practicing for accuracy used them as a proof of proficiency attaining the 'Golden Ratio' score in exclusive clubs. Artisans producing garments requiring the exclusive coloration afforded by the species consumed vast quantities of the population, as a single avian possessed a mere thousand feathers. In short, a rapid downturn began to depress the population, until the advent of its Quidditch soiree.

While the sport known as Quidditch in this day and age has its roots in the ancient traditions found across Wizarding Germany, additions can be found in such places as Italy (Fuvirga's destructive iron balls, believed modified from siege ammunition), France (Balai'coursen, where teams of three compete in moving a single large ball to score points in one large rings) and of course, Britain (Ditch-kick, where players used teams of flying brooms divided into two specialty teams, attempting to knock the ball carrier off his or her broom).

Introducing the Golden Snidget added an element of surprise, where a single stroke of luck might take a certain defeat and change it to victory. Various scoring elements were tried, but the game itself became popular. Its popularity was so great that the ICW was forced to devote an entire three divisions of Obliviators in order to remove all references from muggle records (History of Quidditch, and Quidditch Through the Ages, by Selik Fergus-Wulf)

This popularity threatened the livelihoods bird catchers when it was announced that the most prized aspect of the game was being abolished, due to the lack of Golden Snidgets. Stretches of land open for hunting were closed, poachers were caught and punished, and substitutes were sought for the precious element. Mating pairs of A. Incomprehensibilis were, paradoxically, worth a Family Manor. This can be exemplified by the foreclosure and sale of Lady Rann's estate (see: Tax Evasion and Their Stories, by T.N.T.), following a lengthy dispute over hedge maintenance and a Golden Snidget nest (Rann vs Wizangamot, W.G. 13-H3).

Upon the revelation of an artificial Snitch, developed by renowned genius Bowman Wright, it was anticipated that hunting season would reopen. But fans of the game protested an announced repeal, forcing the ban to remain intact. Today the A. incomprehensibilis remains a shining example of the effectiveness in sports, when a general populace desires change and moves in concert for the greater good. It has been long and slow years for the A. incomprehensibilis's recuperation, but its numbers now approach the population levels once seen around the turn of the last millennium.

It is with pride and deep satisfaction that this author has witnessed A. incomprehensibilis outside his very own window, building a nest in a Dirigible Plum tree, planted for just such a purpose. Their bright colors and passionate defense of hearth and family is encouraging in even the darkest times. Long may they continue their curious, fast-paced lifestyle.

From the desk of Charles Levinhand

Scrivner, Historian, Practitioner of Perfect Pitch, and Time Lord