THE HUMMING BIFDS. 321 



2.60; tail. 1.53 (middle feathers only .10 shorter); exposed culinen, 

 1.15.* 



Immature male (No. 105701, Jalapa, Prof. F. Ferrari-Perez): Inter- 

 mediate in coloration between the adult male and female, as described 

 above, the crown only partly violet, the throat only partly green, chest 

 slightly mixed with black, etc., the tail exactly intermediate both in 

 form and color. Wing, 2.90; tail, 1.85 (middle feathers .20 shorter); 

 exposed cnlmen. 1.09. 



Young female (No. 99367, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, July 5, 1884, 

 E. W. Nelson) : Similar to the adult female as described above, but 

 all the contour feathers of the upper parts margined with pale buffy- 

 grayish, and under parts darker, with entire sides distinctly glossed 

 with bronze- green. 



This fine Humming Bird was first described by Swainson, in 1827, 

 but only two years later was redescribed by Lesson, who give it the 

 specific name Rivoli, in honor of M. Masseua, Prince of Essling and 

 Duke of Kivoli. Mr. Gould refers to it as being celebrated " for the 

 beauty of its coloring and the bold style of its markings;" and it is, 

 indeed, one of the finest of the Mexican species, both as to size and 

 beauty of plumage. 



The habits of the Rivoli Humming Bird are this described by Mr. 

 Salviu, in The Ibis, 1860, pages 261, 262: 



This species is rare at Coban. The place described^ as frequented by Amazilia 

 dumeriliit is where I Lave found thin species in greatest numbers; indeed, with 

 two exception^, I have never met with it elsewhere near Dueiias. It is a most 

 pugnacious bird. Many a time have I thought to secure a tine male, which I had per- 

 haps been following from tree to tree, and had at last seen quietly perched on a leaf- 

 less twig, when my deadly iuteution has been anticipated by one less so in fact, but 

 to all appearance equally so in will. Another Humming Bird rushes in, knocks the 

 one I co vet off" his perch, and the two go fighting and screaming away at a pace hardly 

 to be followed by the eye. Another time this flying fight is sustained in midair, the 

 belligerents, mounting higher and higher till the one worsted in battle darts away 

 seeking shelter, followed by the victor, who never relinquishes the pursuit till the 

 vanquished, by doubling and hiding, succeeds in making his escape. These fierce 

 raids are not waged alone between members of the same species. Eugenes ftilgens 

 attacks with equal ferocity Amezilia dumerilii, and, animated by no high-souled gen- 

 erosity, scruples not to tilt with the little Trochilus colubris. 1 know of hardly any 

 species that shows itself more brilliantly than this when on the wing, yet it is not to 

 the midday sun that it exhibits its splendor. When the southerly winds bring clouds 

 and driving mists between the volcanoes of Agua and Fuego and all is as in a No- 



* The dimensions of an adult female taken May 28, 1888, in Carr's Gallon, Hua- 

 chuca Mountains, Arizona, by Mr. Will W. Price, are as follows: Length (skin), 

 4.80; wing, 2.70; tail, 1.70; exposed culmeu, 1.10. 



tThe " western boundary of the llano of Dueiias, which, starting from the village, 

 and bounded to the eastward by the river Grtiacalate, extends, sweeping by the base 

 of the Volcan de Fuego, almost to the Hacienda of Capertillo, its southern extremity. 

 Dispersed over this plain is found, in groves, patches, and isolated trees, a Tree- 

 Convolvulus, bearing a white ilower and attaining an average height of about 25 or 

 30 feet." 



H. Mis. 129, pt. 2 21 



