268 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



hummer appears small but its tiny dimensions are only fully appre- 

 ciated when one pauses in its search of flowers to rest on some twig 

 in the sun when it seems no larger than a bee, so that one marvels 

 at its delicate form that retains in spite of its diminutiveness the 

 organs and functions of larger relatives. 



The vervain hummer frequents shrubbery, fields grown with 

 bushes, and open scrubs, and does not penetrate dense forest growths. 

 It ranges from sea level into the mountains, the highest elevation 

 at which it is recorded at present being the Valley of Constanza. 

 Apparently the climate of the uplands has little peril for it since 

 the nights at that altitude are very cold. Possibly it may descend 

 to lower elevations in winter when frost comes occasionally killing 

 tender vegetation in the mountains. 



Should its tiny form in its rapid movements escape the eye atten- 

 tion is regularly directed to it by its song, a series of labored, twitter- 

 ing syllables uttered with constantly elongating neck and turning 

 head, an effort of surprising volume when the author is considered, 

 that, though high pitched, has considerable carrying power as it is 

 audible to human ears easily at a distance of seventy-five yards. 

 Occasionally this song is given on the wing, but ordinarily the bird 

 is moved to vocal expression when at rest on some perch in the sun. 

 The song seemingly is greatly enjoj^ed as it may continue without 

 cessation for several minutes. Like larger members of its family 

 this hummer is pugnacious and does not hesitate to dash headlong 

 at birds as large as the mockingbird that chance to offend its eye. 



The Hispaniolan form has long been known, as Brisson in 1760 

 described it from a specimen in the museum of de Reaumur, col- 

 lected by Chervain. Vieillot in 1802 gives a considerable account 

 of its habits describing the song and nest. The latter he says may 

 be placed on a limb or attached to the side of an upright branch. 

 It is built of cottony material, covered externally with lichens. The 

 eggs, two in number, are incubated for twelve days and the young 

 remain in the nest for seventeen or eighteen days. He says that 

 the male shares in the duties of incubation. 



Salle found this hummer in the Dominican Republic and, over- 

 looking earlier names, described it as a new species under the 

 specific designation catharinae, dedicating it to his mother. He 

 records the nest as placed from eighteen inches to three feet from 

 the ground in thorny thickets or on the leaves of cactus, woven 

 ordinarily of the webs of spiders and caterpillars and covered with 

 lichens. He observed occupied nests during July and August. Cory 

 collected a male at Puerto Plata November 24, 1882. Tristram 

 reports a male taken at Samana in 1884 by C. G. McGrigor. Cherrie 

 found the species common but difficult to collect. Christy received 



