70 MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM COSTA RICA. [Jail. 15, 



245. Paphiosa Helena, Del. 



I saw several male specimens of this species at San Carlos ; but I 

 was never able to get a shot at them. I have one female specimen 

 from Turrialba. 



246. Dorycha bryant^, Lawr. 



San Jose, March ; Volcano of Irazu, April. A very rare species. 

 It appears as soon as it is daylight, and is very quick. It never rests 

 long in one place. When on the wing it makes a great noise, similar 

 to that of a large Coleopteron (Scarabeidse) when flying. 



247- Trochilus colubris, Linn. 



One specimen, from San Jose, January. Seems to be very rare in 

 Costa Rica. 



248. Selasphorus scintilla, Gould. 



Several specimens from Cartago, April ; and Volcano of Irazu, 

 May. Seen also at the high altitude of 10,000 feet in company 

 with Selasphorus fiammula. Feeds on the flowers of small plants. 

 When I say feeds on the flowers, I mean that it takes from the flowers 

 not only the honey, but, above all, the minute insects which are inside. 

 This is usual with all the Humming-birds. I have no doubt that 

 they can live a certain time on honey only ; but it is not sufficient, 

 and their principal food is insects. It is very seldom that you skin 

 a Humming-bird without finding the crop filled partially with insects 

 of all descriptions. I have brought home a certain number of 

 crops in alcohol. All of them contain insects, which I intend to 

 determine as soon as possible. S. scintilla makes a very slight noise 

 when flying ; it is not more than that of a drone-bee. 



The place where I killed my specimens had been taken possession of 

 by a certain number of Sancerottia sophicB and Pyrrhophcena riefferi. 

 Each one of these had its assigned place, and used to drive away any 

 trespasser. I noticed that S. scintilla used to go only to the small 

 plants near the ground ; and I have no doubt that the little noise 

 made by the bird was to escape its enemies 5. sophics and P. riefferi. 

 Flying very low was another precaution ; however, the sight and 

 the hearing of these little birds is so subtle that poor S. scintilla was 

 soon detected and obliged to fly away. I think this also is the reason 

 why this species was rather scarce. 



249. Selasphorus flammula, Salv. 



Several specimens, male and female, of this very rare species. 

 All of them were killed at the summit of the Volcano of Irazu, on 

 parasitic plants (mistletoe) growing on small alpine trees in a soil 

 composed principally of ashes and scoriae. There, at the altitude of 

 10,000 feet and more, it takes possession of a locality where flowers 

 are abundant, and defends its property against S. scintilla and other 

 birds. 



