262 Mr. O. Salviu on the 



tained in mid air, the belligerents mounting higher and higher, 

 till the one worsted in buttle darts away, seeking shelter, followed 

 by the victor, who never relinquishes the pursuit till the van- 

 quished, by doubling and hiding, succeeds in making his escape. 

 These fierce raids are not waged alone between members of the 

 same species. Eugenes fulgens attacks with equal ferocity Ama- 

 zilia dumerillii, and, animated by no high-souled generosity, 

 scruples not to tilt with the little Trochilus colubris. I know of 

 hardly any species that shows itself more brilliantly than this 

 when on the wing ; yet it is not to the midday sun that it exhibits 

 its splendour. When the southerly wind brings clouds and 

 driving mist between the volcanos of Agua and Fuego, and all 

 is as in a November fog in England, then it is that Eugenes ful- 

 gens appears in numbers ; Amazilia dumerillii, instead of a few 

 scattered birds, is to be seen in every tree, and Trochilus coluhris 

 in great abundance. Such animation awakes in Humming-bird- 

 life as would hardly be credited by one who had passed the 

 same spot an hour or two before j and the flying to and fro, the 

 humming of wings, the momentary and prolonged contests, and 

 the incessant battle-cries seem almost enough for a time to turn 

 the head of a lover of these things. I have fifteen males from 

 Duefias to one female, which I shot, but did not skin, — one male 

 from Coban, and two males from Tactic. 



A "London fog" must not be understood here, as the yellow 

 element is entirely wanting. 



8. Myiabeillia typica. 



Volcan de Fuego (September 6th) and Coban. 



The barrancos of the Volcano are the only localities I am aware 

 of, near Duenas, where this species is found. There, however, 

 it is a common bird. It is usually to be seen feeding about the 

 brushwood, seeking the flowers, &c. It is a restless species, but 

 shows little symptoms of fear. 



My skins from the Volcano are one female and three males. 

 The proportions at Coban are very difi'erent. Here it is com- 

 mon, being found in all the mountain-hollows, feeding among 

 the Salvia-. The ratio of the sexes is as twenty males to one 

 female. 



