I03 



warded. The whole series was placed in the cases 

 (one can hardly call them cages) which were specially 

 designed for the last lot that were sent over, and 

 flowers in bloom were put inside too. I noticed the 

 birds hovering in front of the flowers, and I saw one 

 bird hanging on to a large bell flower and investiga- 

 ting it with his head thrnst in as far as it could be put. 

 Aphides were provided, and the winged ones rising in 

 the air from the infested leaves that were put in, were 

 caught in the air by the Hummers, which seemed to 

 enjoy tlie treat of living insects. Several kinds of 

 food were given, mostly liquid, including syrup, mar- 

 mite, and latterly, milk. Of the three species I saw, a 

 a plate accompanies this article, and the following are 

 notes taken from Gould's magnificent monograph on 

 the Humming-Birds, and the British Museum Cata- 

 logue, Vol. XVI. 



Blue-tailed Amazili (^Amazilia Jelicice, Elliot). 



"Adult: Similar to A. eryihtonota, but with the tail 

 rather brighter steel-blue. 



The colour of the back of this bird varies from reddish 

 coppery to green, and it is quite the exception to find a specimen 

 as green as represented in Gould's plate. The lighter, brighter 

 tail alone seems to separate A. felicice from A. erylhrotiota, but 

 the difference is so slight that it is more than probable that both 

 birds and A. tobaci will have to be placed under one specific 

 name. Habitat, Venezuela." (B. M. Cat., Vol. XVI., p. 226). 



" I have not been able to detect any difference in the 

 colouring of the sexes and I believe their discrimination will 

 be impossible unless dissection of freshly killed examples be 

 resorted to." (Gould. Vol, V., pi. 317). 



Length about 3|in., wings nearly 2 Ins., tail i^ ins. bill 

 f in., (top two figures in accompanying plate). 



