552 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



for the reason, apparently, that it has a somewhat musical voice. It is the 

 only Humming Bird which to my knowledge has any notes which are sufficient 

 to recognize it by in the woods, and though rather monotonous, are quite 

 pleasing. 



In the neighborhood of Jalapa this species is found occasionally, but in the 

 above-mentioned place is more abundant, although very difficult to obtain. 

 It inhabits the forest in the winter season, and generally feeds on the flowers 

 of high bushes called Asasaretos, which at that season are in full bloom and 

 densely covered with beautiful smooth emerald green leaves, amongst which 

 it is very difficult to see this bird, though it often betrays itself by its musical 

 notes, especially in the morning. The males, I think, only sing, or at least 

 much more than the females. 



Very few specimens of this kind are seen in summer time in this neighbor- 

 hood. It is found also near Cordova, and goes as far south as Guatemala, where 

 perhaps it builds its nest, for I have never seen nor heard of a nest being found 

 here. 



The general appearance of this species is as follows : the upper part of the 

 head is beautiful metallic ultramarine color. Wing coverts and tail coverts, 

 and upper part of the body bronze green. Throat, under wing coverts, breast 

 and belly, iron gray color, and the under tail coverts the same, but tinged with 

 chestnut. Quills purplish black with the vanes black and resembling whale- 

 bone, the three principle ones rather wider than common. Tail feathers yel- 

 lowish bronze green, all except the two central, with the half towards the 

 point bluish black, three on each side tipped with chestnut iron gray. The feet 

 are dark iron gray, nails and upper mandible black, under mandible iron gray. 

 Its size from the point of the bill to the tip of the tail is from 5 to 5f inches, 

 wing 2|, tail 2, bill 1^ inches. The female is almost precisely like the male, 

 with the difference of about f of an inch in size, and either less blue or with 

 it less brilliant on the top of the head. 



No. 4. 



Thaumastura Elizje, Gould. 

 Trochilus Elisa, Lesson. 

 Mirtis Elisa, Reichenbach. 

 Lucifer Elisa, Bonaparte. 

 Calothorax Elisa, G. R. Gray. 



This species of Humming Bird is one of the rarest that is found in Mexico. 

 It is small, very beautiful, and possesses wonderful rapidity of flight, moving 

 its wings with such velocity that it is almost impossible to see them when 

 flying, and it may easily be mistaken for a large bee on account of the strange 

 buzzing sound produced by their incessant motion. In the vicinity of Jalapa 

 this bird is called Mirto de colo de tisera, or the shear-tailed Myrtle-sucker. 



This Humming Bird is extremely shy, and differs in its habits and manner 

 of living from other species. It rises very early in the morning, and the few 

 specimens that have come under my observation I never saw after seven or 

 eight o'clock in the morning, and again about five o'clock in the afternoon 

 until dark ; in the intermediate time I have never seen it. When once this 

 bird is found eating at one place it is almost sure to be found there at the same 

 hour for several days in succession, so that once failing to obtain it, all that is 

 necessary is to wait for it the next day. It feeds on the Masapan and Tobaco 

 flowers, I think preferring the latter. 



This bird is found also at the Barrancas de Jico (or Precipices of Jico) about 

 twenty miles from Jalapa ; there it builds its nest, which I have seen. It is 

 very small, round, and flat on the bottom, neither so deep nor so thick on the 

 lower part as the generality of other Humming Birds. The eggs are two, 

 rather long in proportion to their diameter. The nest is covered on the out- 

 side with moss from stones, and lined inside with tule or cattail silky floss. 



[Dec. 



