AMAZILIA GRAYSO^i,Lozvrence. 



Grayson^s Amazili. 



Amazilia (PyrrJiopJia^na) gvaysoni, Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, viii. p. 404 



(1867). 

 Polytmus graysoni. Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 132, no. 1689 (1869). 

 Amazilia graysoni, Sclater & Salvin, Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 92 (1873).— Mulsant, Hist. 



Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, i. p. 286 (1874).— Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming- 



Birds, p. 219 (1878). 

 Pyrrhoph(ena graysoni Lawrence, Proc. Bost. Soc. xiv. p. 283. — Id. Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. 



Hist. ii. p. 292 (1874). 

 Jmazilia grayso7ii, Eudes-Deslongcliamps, Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. de Caen, i. p. 402 (1880). 



This is a large race of A. cinnamomea, but is certainly distinguishable. It appears to be confined to the 

 Tres Marias Islands, where it was discovered by the late Colonel Grayson, and it has since then been found 

 in the same locality by Mr. Ferrer. 



Colonel Grayson has given the following notes on the species as observed by him ; — "In my visit to the 

 Tres Marias it has been my good fortune to discover this new addition to the large group to which it belongs. 



"• This rather large Humming-bird is very abundant on the islands, where they seem to be continually at 

 war with each other; in fact they attack every bird, and even the butterflies, should they approach some 

 chosen flowering plant which they guard unremittingly as their own treasure. As they dart like a golden 

 sunbeam through the woods, they often utter their shrill note o^ fiveet, fweet, fweet. 



" Sometimes combats between them become of a desperate nature. One day while watching a number 

 of them in active motion around some tobacco flowers (of which they seem to be very fond) two fine males 

 after darting at each other for some time, at length came to a deathly struggle, high above my head ; they 

 finally clinched each other, each having one the other in his mouth, at the same time scratching with their 

 claws, and using their wings with the greatest force, and in this situation, whirling round and round, they 

 fell to the ground near my feet. During this terrible conflict, in which desperation cmd passion were 

 exhibited, I observed them for a few seconds and then gently placed my hat over both ; even after they 

 were thus captured, and I held one in each hand, they evinced a desire to continue the war. 



" I have seen this species frequently darting from its perch upon passing diminutive flies, like a real fly- 

 catcher. I found the gizzard, when examined, always well filled with them and other minute insects. 



''Neither of these species have I seen on the mainland; it would seem, therefore, that they belong 

 entirely to this locality, where perhaps other species may yet be found. 



"Here amid such luxuriance of flowers and leaves, and wild entanglement of climbing plants and vegetable 

 glory, it would be surprising if no others should be discovered in this favored spot, where the flowers seem 

 to vie with the brilliant tints of the ' brave little humming-birds.' 



'' The bill of this species is long, but sligiitly arched, depressed at base, where it is orange-yellow above 

 and below, the rest black; the wing a little recurved, and of a purplish-brown ; tail with broad feathers and 

 slightly forked, is of a deep cinnamon-red, tipped with black and green reflections, the balance of the upper 

 parts golden-green v^ith metallic reflections, slightly tinged with rufous on the forehead. Entire underparts 

 light cirmamon-red or rufous. Iris brown ; feet dark brown. Total length 4*75 inches, alar. ext. 6'5, 



bill 1-02, tail 1*75." 



[H. B. S.J 



