50 FOOD AND HABITS. 



says, - " It affects the lowlands in preference to 

 the mountains, and open places rather than the 

 deep woods ; yet is rarely seen to suck the blos- 

 soms of herbs or shrubs, as TEOCHILUS HTTMILIS 

 (Joes, but, like POLTTMUS (the long-tailed Hum- 

 ming-bird), hovers around blossoming trees. 

 The bunch of blossom at the summit of the pole- 

 like Papaw-tree (Carica Papaya) is a favourite 

 resort of this species, particularly at sunset. 

 This habit I observed, and took advantage of 

 very soon after my arrival ; for there was a fine 

 male Papaw-tree in profuse bloom close to the 

 door at Bluefields, which the Mango frequented." 



" The pugnacity of the Humming-birds 



has been often spoken of; two of the same spe- 

 cies can rarely suck flowers from the same bush, 

 without a rencontre. Mango, however, will even 

 drive away another species, which I have never 

 observed the others to do. I once witnessed 

 a combat between two of the present species, 

 which was prosecuted with much pertinacity, 

 and protracted to an unusual length. It was in 

 the month of April, when I was spending a few 

 days at Phoenix Park, near Savanna le Mer. 

 In the garden were two trees of the kind called 

 the Malay Apple {Eugenia Malaccensis), one of 

 which was but a yard or two from my window. 

 The genial influence of the spring rains had 

 covered them with a profusion of beautiful blos- 

 soms, each consisting of a multitude of crimson 

 stamens with very minute petals, like bunches 



