NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 285 



Jambosa vulgaris, (Rose Apple). The wall of the nest is rather thicker than 

 that of the preceding, and is generally made altogether of down, covered, 

 some thickly, others sparely, on the outside with spider 'swebs, lichen or moss ; 

 the eggs are pellucid white, and like the thin-shelled eggs of small birds, have 

 a tawny stripe before they are blown ; they are oblong, rounded at both ends, 

 and measure 9-16ths by 6-16ths. The long feathers of the tail vary from 8 to 11 

 inches. 



191. Aithurus fuliginosus, Hill.* I have met with this second species of 

 long-tailed Humming bird only in St. Ann's. The male is smoky -black, with 

 the long tail feathers, the female brown, and without the tail feathers. I 

 have mislaid my note of the dimensions, but the male is smaller than the A. 

 polytmus. 



25. Mellisuga humilis. f The length of this bird varies from 2\ to 2 

 inches. It appears to breed at all seasons, as I have found nests in every 

 month of the year. The nest is made sometimes wholly of down, at other 

 times thinly covered on the outside with lichen, moss, or spider's webs ; it is 

 generally about an inch high and the same in diameter ; the cup barely h an 

 inch within, some being much smaller ; the eggs are oblong, rounded at both 

 ends, pellucid white, tawny before they are blown, and measure 15-32ds by 

 ll-32ds. 



79. Mellisuga minima. This diminutive species of Honey Sucker, though 

 not uncommon in the mountains, is rarely met with in the lowlands. About 

 the Penns in the neighborhood of the Moneague they are abundant, building 

 generally in the low shrubs about Walton and other pastures in the Moneague 

 district. The nest is built of down and spider's webs, and the largest I have 

 met with was only | of an inch in height, and less than an inch in depth 

 within the cup. The eggs are pellucid white, oblong, rounded at both ends, 

 and are only 5-16ths by 3-16ths. The dimensions of this diminutive bird are, 

 length 1 jg, expanse 2 T 5 g, flexure y|. 



78. There is another species of small humming bird, rather larger than M. 

 humilis, with the plumage of a bright metallic or bronzed green. The nest and 

 eggs are a little larger than those of M. humilis. 



192. Trochilus maria, Hill.f I have never met with this species, which is 

 very rare, only three specimens having been recorded, according to my infor- 

 mation. 



I have been told of another distinct humming bird found on the Dry Harbor 

 Mountains, but have never seen it. 



CAPRIMULGID^E. 



10. Chordeiles popetue. The large night or Mosquito Hawk retains here 

 all the habits, attributed to it on the Continent. This species I have only met 

 with from April to October, but the Chordeiles minor is a permanent resident as 

 I have obtained specimens in nearly every month during the year. They are 

 rather a twilight than a night bird, lying during the day on the ground or 

 ledges of rocks, or on lateral branches of trees ; taking wing only in heavy 

 cloudy weather, or immediately after rain, in the dusk of the evening, at 

 early dawn, or on bright moonlight nights. The eggs are deposited on any 

 slight elevation, in the open pasture or savanna, free from any shade ; they 

 are often found on a spot where bush has been burnt off, and in the moun- 



* I do not know where this species is described ; it may be the T. stellatus of Gosse referred to by 

 Mr. Gould, (B.) ' J 



t Mr. Gould considers this as identical with M. minima, (B.) 

 X This species is considered by Mr. Gould to be identical with Aithurus polytmus. 

 {j This species is not distinguished from the next by Gosse. (B.) 



1863.] 



