THE HUMMING BIRDS. 285 



Humming Bird (Mellisuga minima) of Jamaica is the only one known 

 to him which has a real song. Soon after sunrise, says he, in the spring 

 months, it is fond of sitting on the topmost branch of a mango or orange 

 tree, where it warbles in a very weak bat very sweet tone a continuous 

 melody for 10 minutes at a time, but the so-called song has little 

 variety. A Mexican Humming Bird (the Wedge-tailed Sabre-wing, 

 Sphenoproctus curvipennis), according to Mr. 11. Montes d'Oca, is called 

 by the people of Coantepec, near Jalapa, Ghupamirto fandanguero, 

 which means "Fandango Myrtle-sucker," on account of its somewhat 

 musical voice. It is the only Humming Bird of his acquaintance whose 

 notes are sufficiently distinctive to recognize it by in the woods, and 

 though monotonous they are very pleasing. 



Speaking of the notes of several of the Humming Birds of Arizona, 

 Mr. F. Stephens * says that of Calypte costre, the female, while feeding, 

 keeps up a pretty constant vocal noise which somewhat resembles the 

 buzz of the wings, and that the feeding note of the male is finer and 

 not so frequent. Of Trochihis alexandri he says that its notes, both of 

 the male and the female, are similar to those of G. costce. 



I have heard the song of each [says he], hut it was some time since, and, as I re- 

 member it, there was little difference between the two species. I think that the 

 males are the only ones who sing. The song is sweet and very low, bnt if it is perfectly 

 quiet around it can be distinctly heard for a distance of 10 yards. As might be expected 

 from the size of the bird, it is on a very high key, something like the sound produced 

 by whistling between the teeth, very low yet at a high pitch. It might be called a 

 warble, and I have heard it kept up for several minutes at a time. At such times I 

 have never been able to find a female in the vicinity, and have come to the conclusion 

 that it was sung for the individual's own amusement. 



There is still another Hummer note — that of the chase. They are very fond of 

 chasing one another, sometimes for sport, often for spite. This note also resembles 

 the feeding note, but is louder aud possesses a chippering character, sometimes almost 

 like the sound produced by lightly and rapidly smacking the lips together. I can 

 detect but little difference between the sexes and it appears much the same whether 

 the chase is in sport or in anger. Furthermore, it is often made by the pursued as well 

 as the pursuer. At such times I am always reminded of a lot of schoolboys playing 

 tag. 



If a Hummer is perched aud a person passes near they start off, uttering a note 

 similar to that made while feeding, but, should it bo a female which you have fright- 

 ened from her nest, she will go off silently. 



FOOD. 



In feeding from flower to flower Humming Birds, besides obtaining 

 nourishment for themselves, perform in the economy of nature the 

 same office as insects, by transferring pollen from one bloom to another, 

 and thus assisting in their fertilization. 



Humming Birds that peer like bees 

 In stamen and in pistil. — Mackay. 



* Bulletin of the Ridgway Ornithological Club of Chicago, No. 2, April 2 1887, pp., 

 43-45, 



