406 'Bibliographical Notices. 



Brazil, frequenting flowers in every possible situation. He thinks 

 that their principal nourishment consists of small insects, althoiigh 

 they may also suck the juices secreted by flowers. They are con- 

 stantly on the wing and exceedingly quarrelsome, continually fighting 

 for the possession of some particular flower. In perching they gene- 

 rally select a very elevated branch, and always one that is deprived of 

 its leaves ; they sometimes, in this situation, emit a plaintive song. 



They pair, and both sexes take part in the incubation and bringing 

 up of the yoimg. The species observed by M. Deville were — 



1. The Topaz Humming-bird (rrocA«7M5»io«cAJ#M5). This is one of 

 the most common in Brazil. It is particularly attached to the flowers of 

 the Malvaceae, and iu places where these exist in large quantities the 

 birds may be met with by myriads, constantly on the wing, and 

 emitting a peculiar cry resembling ti-ri-ri-ri. They are to be seen 

 in the greatest abundance from 7 or 8 o'clock in the morning to 

 noon, and from 2 to 6 o'clock in the afternoon. Their breeding sea- 

 son is in December. 



2. Swallow-tailed Humming-bird {T. hirundinacea) . This bird 

 frequents the banks of rivers, flies very rapidly, and is very bold. It 

 is found all the year in Brazil, but seems to be most common from 

 August to October. 



3. Dingy Humming-bird {T. luguhris) . This bird frequents thick 

 woods and must be sought for at the flowery summits of trees. It 

 flies very rapidly. It is most abundant in November and December. 



4. Magnificent Humming-bird (r. 5<rMJw«na). The nourishment 

 of this bird consists principally of small insects which it captures 

 whilst flying, darting from the tip of a dry branch to which it con- 

 stantly returns after every capture. It is not the least frightened at 

 the sight of men. 



5. Tufted Humming-bird (T. orwa/ws) . This, which is one of the 

 smallest birds of Brazil, is to be met vnth, although always in small 

 numbers, about the flowers of the orange trees. 



6. Eared Humming-bird (T. auritus). This bird is met with from 

 July to September in the capoeiroes or overgrown abandoned planta- 

 tions. It prefers red flowers and flies very rapidly, constantly emitting 

 a rough note. 



7. Ruby Humming-bird {T. cohihris). Of this species two va- 

 rieties differing in size are met with, one being a third larger than 

 the other. Its flight is hea^y and noisy like that of a humble-bee. 

 It prefers the flowers of orange trees, and those of the Lantana 

 rosea. 



8. Castelnau's Humming-bird {T. Castelnaudii, Bourc. and Muls.) . 

 This bird is very rare ; it keeps below the flowers of a species of Mi- 

 mosa, the sweetness of which attracts many insects. Its note is very 

 sharp, and its flight very rapid and noisy. It was found near Cusco 

 in Bolivia. 



9. Sappho Humming-bird {T. Sappho). This bird inhabits the 

 warm valleys of Boli^^a. Its note is disagreeable, its flight light ; it 

 lives in little troops. 



10. Cora Humming-bird (T. Cora). This bird appears during 



I 



