West-Indian Humming birds. 511 



so high up the mountains as I found E. jugularis, and it 

 seems to be more partial to the low country. 



The plumage of the two sexes is similar, but that of the 

 male is brighter and richer than that of his mate. Although 

 these birds are more shy than the others, they seem to be 

 fairly tame when not disturbed, and might frequently be 

 seen feeding among the flowering trees in the town (Roseau) 

 and coming to the bananas by the natives' huts ; but they are 

 more easily alarmed and do not allow so close an approach. 

 Banana patches are always a favourite liuntiug-ground of 

 this species. 



I see that Gould makes two species of this bird, one of 

 which he calls EiiUunpis holosericeus , as named above, and the 

 other E. chloroJcema. After looking through a large series of 

 skins in the British Museum there seems to be little cause 

 for such discrimination, as the blue band across the breast, on 

 which Gould chieflly bases his distinction, varies in individuals 

 from a mere spot to a band right across the breast, ar.d it 

 seems impossible to draw a line of demarcation between the 

 two supposed species. 



-J- Belluna exilis is very common in Dominica^ and may be seen 

 almost everywhere except up in the high mountains, for I saw 

 very few up in the districts haunted by Thalurania wagleri. 

 The male of B. exilis seems to feed promiscuously upon 

 any plant, bush, or tree that has flowers. His glittering 

 golden-green crest seems always to be erect; I do not tiiink 

 that I ever saw it laid back ; but he probably lays it flat when 

 flying from one place to another. In profile he while sitting 

 still shows his crest-feathers to be absolutely vertically erect, 

 and they appear thus like two or three lines springing up 

 from the head, though of course from a front view the crest 

 appears like a broad flat mass of feathers tapering away to 

 a sharp point. His figure while at rest is generally rather 

 slim, his tail slightly raised from the slope of his back, and 

 his beak nearly horizontal. Telephone-wires are a very 

 favourite perch of his, failing which any bare exposed twig 

 will suit him. He is quite a soberly clad little bird, except 

 for his crest, which glitters like an emerald star as he hovers 



SER. VII. VOL. II. 2o 



