PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 61 



gleam of light would penetrate. It would dart aud double with rapid- 

 ity, occasionally fluttering on suspended wing, like a Hawk, then dart 

 off to a neartwig, whence, after resting a while, it would renew its forage 

 upon the diminutive insects sporting in the ray of dusky light. 



u Procured a nest and two eggs, in June, from a 4 cactus ' tree." 



" Length, <y, 4 J in. ; alar extent, 6 ; wing, 2 J." 



26. Thalurania wagleri (Less.). 



" White-throat Hummer." September, 1877. 



"This bird I found tolerably abundant, principally in the shady 

 mountain paths of the 4 high woods \ I saw but one before (earlier in 

 the year) in March, while on my way to the Boiling Lake. It may be 

 the young of No. 368 or 369, but of this you can judge, as I send speci- 

 mens of each kind. Inhabits the mountains. 



" Length, 9 , 4J in. ; alar extent, 6 ; wing, 2g." 



Mr. Ober's note given above refers to the female of this species, of 

 which two examples were sent in his last collection ; also one male, Xo. 

 369; on the label of this specimen he wrote, "Purple-throat Hummer, <j ?. 

 Length, 4J in. ; alar extent, 6; wing, 2J." (So. 368 is Eulampis holose- 

 riceus.) This is the first allusion he has made to its being a distinct 

 species, which is difficult to account for, as the male is also very differ- 

 ent in appearance from the three other species found abundantly in the 

 island. In his first collection, seven males of T. wagleri were sent, but 

 there is no note or any comment to lead to the supposition that he con- 

 sidered it a fourth species — the three regular forms being the only ones 

 spoken of. 



The female of this species appears to have been more rarely obtained 

 than the male. 



It has the crown and upper tail-coverts bluish-green, the upper 

 plumage and wing-coverts dark green tinged with golden ; the middle 

 tail-feathers are golden bronze, ending with greenish-blue; the other 

 tail-feathers are greenish-blue, with their bases golden bronze, and ending 

 with grayish-white ; the lores, a line under the eye, and the ear-coverts 

 are black ; the under plumage is ashy-white; the bill is entirely black. 



The procuration of the female establishes this species as being resi- 

 dent in Dominica. 



27. Orthorhynchus exilis (Gm.). 

 " Small Crested Hummer." 



" This species is called by the natives, 1 Fou, Fou,' or 1 crazy, crazy,' 

 from its eccentric motions in the air. 



" It is not uncommon along the coast and in the lower valleys. Al- 

 most the only species on the Atlantic side in April and May. Very 

 abundant everywhere. Took first nest, March 20, in Shawford Yalley ; 

 found others as late as June 20, at Batalie, on sea-coast. 



" In order of numerical abundance this species can be first, the Crim- 

 son-throat second, the Blue or Violet-breast third. 



"Length, 3J in.; alar extent, 43; wing, 2, 



