72 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



considered neutral until more is learned of the life histories and habits of the 

 smaller little-known tropical Hyrnenoptera. In consuming numbers of injurious 

 Homoptera it does a certain amount of good and in the destruction of flies it is 

 likewise useful. 



The following were identified in the stomachs examined : 



HOMOPTERA. 



Tettigonia sp. 



■: z r:: -•- 



Catorama sp. 



Psilopus sp. 



AEACHXIDA. 



Gamasius sp. 



GREEX MANGO. Anthracothorax viridis (Audebert and Yieillot). 



ZUMBADOEj ZUMBADOR VEUDE. 



The hummingbird known as the green mango is confined to Porto Rico, and 

 occurs mainly in the coffee plantations and inland forest growths, living either 

 in the densest growth or in the borders of the woods. Only one was noted on 

 the coast (near Mameyes), but a few were seen at Rio Piedras. In dry areas 

 it was entirely absent, none being seen along the semiarid south side of the 

 island nor in the region between Aguadilla and Camuy. When the forests were 

 wet these birds were inactive until the sun was well up. When several were 

 together they were very alert, pursuing each other and the smaller hummers 

 like a flash. Occasionally in August, near Adjuntas, they gave a series of low 

 twittering notes that might almost be called a song, while sitting quietly on a 

 perch, but the usual note was a sharp squeak. Sometimes in collecting them 

 they were attracted by the muzzle of the gun and hovered above it, advancing, 

 retreating, and following after it. 



The birds were gathering nesting material in December, and the 1st of Feb- 

 ruary females were busy collecting the downy seeds of certain plants near Aibo- 

 nito. On the 3d of February one was seen driving a wood pewee from a tree, 

 and later on pursuing a flycatcher, and as I watched it it flew up and settled 

 on the nest, which was about 40 feet from the ground, saddled on a limb in the 

 top of a tall, slender tree. The nest was not finished, and the bird was busy 

 arranging the lining, twisting around to mold it to her body. Every passing 

 bird or insect was noted and her head was moving constantly. The male perched 

 in the top of the same or neighboring trees, whizzing threateningly at all 

 feathered intruders, large and small, but not coming near the nest. From other 

 observations, the male and female remain together throughout the breeding 

 season. Gundlach (1878, p. 222) speaks of finding fresh eggs in October. 



The emajagua hedges (Paritium tttiaceum), with their large yellow flowers, 

 were favorite hunting grounds with these hummers, as were the flowers of vari- 

 ous trumpet creepers (Ipomea sp.). The birds were observed many times work- 

 ing over the trunks and large limbs of trees, apparently gleaning small insects 

 from the crevices of the bark. Frequently when little clouds of gnats gathered 

 in the air above the trees, these large hummers hung with rapidly vibrating 

 wings, changing to one side or the other, and whirling completely around with 

 the greatest celerity, while picking up the minute insects. When tired they 

 came down to shaded perches, rested a minute, and then flew up again to con- 

 tinue as before. In the tobacco fields at Caguas they were accused of eating 

 tobacco seed, but this hardly seems probable, and at any rate little damage 

 would result. Near Cayey a bird worked over the ripened heads of some grass 

 along a roadside, and though it may have been gathering insects, none were 

 found on the seed heads on close examination. 



