MAXGO. 



blossoming- trees. The bunch of blossoms at the summit of the 

 pole-like Papa w- tree, ( Carica Papaya,) is a favourite resort of 

 this species, particularly at sunset. This habit I observed, and 

 took advantage of very soon after my arrival; for there "was a 

 fine male Papaw-tree in profuse bloom close to the door at 

 Bluefields, which the Mango frequented. * * 



The pugnacity of Humming Birds has often been spoken of; 

 two of the same species can rarely suck flowers from the same 

 bush without a rencontre. Mango, however, will even drive- 

 away another species, which I have never observed the others 

 to do. I once witnessed a combat between two of the present 

 species, which w T as prosecuted with much pertinacity, and pro- 

 tracted to an unusual length. It was in the month of April, 

 when I was spending a few days at Phoenix Park, near Savanna 

 le Mer. In the garden were two trees of the kind called the 

 Malay Apple, (Eugenia MalacemisJ one of which was but a 

 yard or two from my window. The genial influence of the 

 spring rains had covered them with a profusion of beautiful 

 blossoms, each consisting of a multitude of crimson stamens, with 

 very minute petals, like bunches of crimson tassels; but the leaf 

 buds were just beginning to open. A Mango Humming Bird 

 had every day, and all day long, been paying his devoirs (ad- 

 dresses) to these charming blossoms. On the morning to which 

 I allude another came, and the manoeuvres of these two tiny 

 creatures became highly interesting. They chased each other 

 through the labyrinth of twigs and flowers, till an opportunity 

 occurred when one would dart with fury upon the other, and 

 then, with a loud rustling of their wings, they would twirl 

 together round and round until they nearly came to the earth. 

 It was some time before I could see with any distinctness what 

 took place in these tussels; their twirlings were so rapid as to 

 baffle all attempts at discrimination. At length an encounter 

 took place pretty close to me, and I perceived that the beak of 

 one grasped the beak of the other, and thus fastened, both 

 whirled round and round in their perpendicular descent, the 

 point of contact being the centre of the gyrations, (twirlings,) 

 till, when another second would have brought them both to the 

 ground, they separated, and the one chased the other for about 

 a hundred yards, and then returned in triumph to the tree, 

 where, perched on a lofty twig, he chirped monotonously and 



