THE HUMMING-BIRDS OF CHOCORUA. 267 



two males. No one of these birds permitted 

 either of the others or any one of numerous fili- 

 bustering humming-birds to drink at its preemp- 

 ted wells. If trespass was attempted, the most 

 furious assault was made upon the intruder, and 

 the possessor was always victorious. Thus, if 

 the female at the eastern tree attempted to ap- 

 proach the western tree, the male on guard there 

 drove her away ; while if he entered upon her 

 dominions, he was swiftly repulsed. The details 

 of these meetings were sometimes very extraor- 

 dinary. In one instance a visiting female per- 

 sisted for nearly ten minutes in trying to secure 

 a foothold at the western tree. The savage 

 little male met her with his usual impetuous 

 charge, but she dodged him, and began a strange 

 sinuous flight among the branches, back and 

 forth, up and down, round and through, over 

 and under, until the air seemed filled with pur- 

 sued and pursuer, dizzily maintaining their mys- 

 terious flight within from five to a hundred feet 

 of the disputed drinking place. Much of the 

 time the female seemed to be facing the male 

 and flying backward slowly with head erect; 

 then there would come a swift " buzz-z-z," and a 

 clear space between the trees would be traversed 

 by both birds with the speed of light, a slower 

 flight being resumed the moment foliage was 

 entered. If the male paused in his pursuit, the 



