(4 ) 



Of humming-birds are found AgyHHa taczanowskii, feeding principally from 

 Amaryllidaceae, and Patagoiui gifjas, with Petasophm-a iolata and MyHia fanny 

 from the agave. I also shot Cyanoinyia cyaneicoUis near the river. 



CAJABAMBA. 



About six hours' travel from Malca, mostly up-hill, is Cajabamba, a town of about 

 four thousand inhabitants. It lies on the western slope of a mountain which has an 

 elevation of over 12,000 feet. To the westward is the Iluamachuco river, the margins 

 of which are covered with sugar-cane. The hills are clothed with small brushwood ; 

 only the caijons contain some small trees. 



In the deep cations Diphlogae^ia eva* is found feeding on various flowers, 

 including the agave. It is a shy bird, and difficult to get, owing to the thickets in 

 which it flies. Often one may watch a flower an hour or more before one of the birds 

 nn-ives to feed, and then, after shooting it, it falls into the creek and is carried down 

 with the rapid-flowing water. Thus manj' specimens are lo.st to the collector. 



The Cyanoleshia gnseiventris and AgyHria taczanowskii are also found below 

 the town. At an elevation of 8000 feet I saw the first Sappho caroli. It proved to 

 be a very shy bird. In spite of all I could do I could not get a shot that day. It was 

 the next morning that I was enabled to discover the hiding-pl.ace of the bird, when it 

 returned from feeding. It sat in a thick bush not over lA feet above the ground. 

 This, as I have experienced subsequently, is the habit of the species ; in all instances 

 they return to their cover after feeding, or when persecuted by other humming-birds. 



Up the mountain above an elevation of 10,000 feet Lesbia (the species near 

 vietoriae) is found. It is a noisy bird, and can be heard at a distance when in flight, 

 chasing another male which happens to get within its feeding ground. The 

 females keep generally in the brushwood, and are difficult to see. During .lanuary and 

 February is the pairing season, and the birds are then in their best plumage. Then 

 one sees the 'male rise high in the air, and come down with spread tail like an arrow, 

 making a noise like a ribbon exposed to a very strong wind. This is repeated many 

 times, or till the female has shifted to another bush. It is eWdent that the performance 

 of the nude is intended to attract the female. 



HUAiMACHUCO. 



One short day's travel from Cajabamba, passing over a very broken country, partly 

 cultivated and partly covered with brushwood, brings the traveller to Huamachuco. 

 It is a small town, and has an elevation of 10,400 feet. Around the town the laud is 

 mostly barren, but the creeks are lined with small trees, principally' alders. In these 

 bushes I found Buarremon rvfigenis and B. haroni. They feed principally under 

 cover, and are only seen when flying from one thicket to another. B. rvfigenis 

 seems to be rather a rare bird, at least in this locality. 



The commonest humming-bird around is Aglaeactis cupreipennis, and a great 

 many may be seen about a bush common in the ranges of Ecuador and Peru. It is 

 very much covered with spines, has small leaves and a pink composite flower. The 

 Metallura Ofiaea is not uncommon in cafions above the town, and is generally to be 

 seen sitting on a root under the bank of a creek. 



Interesting is the Oreotrochilus siolzmanni. It seldom rests on a branch, 

 jireferring a high boulder from which it commands a good view over its feeding grounds. 

 Its food is taken from the same composite flower which is sought by A. cnpreipennis, 



* Oiphlojaina era Salvin. Bull. B.O.C. No. xlii. p. xxx. 



