39 
on the Ornithology of Guatemala . 
from dissection of specimens that the males only of this species 
have the remarkably strong shafts to the primaries, which are, I 
believe, peculiar to the genus Campylopterus . What habit pur¬ 
sued by the males and not by the females necessitates this strange 
feature ? 
The flowers of the Banana (Musa) are much resorted to by 
this bird. 
56. Cyanomyia cyanocephala , sp. 183. 
Last year in a cypress-tree near the house at Duenas a pair 
of these birds built their nest. This year on looking I found a 
branch of the same tree similarly tenanted, the new nest being 
a few yards only from where it was last year. To get at it I was 
obliged to cut away the branch, and, though in falling the nest 
was quite thrown on its side, the eggs, much to my surprise, did 
not fall out. This I afterwards found was owing to the lip of 
the nest, which in its natural state turns in considerably. This 
last week another pair have been building somewhere near the 
house, and the male bird frequently comes while I am preparing 
skins in the corridor and takes pieces of cotton almost from 
under my hand. Yesterday afternoon (Aug. 14) Mr. Wyld 
caught it making a descent upon some small object in his room. 
He shut the window and called me. The intruder, who was 
wearied from fluttering against the window, suffered itself to be 
caught. In a very few moments its agitation ceased, and it 
seemed to be taking advantage of its comfortable place in my 
hand to rest from its fatigues, making no attempt to escape. 
Before letting it go I procured a piece of sugar, and dipping it 
in water put it to the tip of its bill. Almost immediately its 
long tongue was employed in sucking up the liquid. On libe¬ 
rating it, it flew to a tree close at hand, and seemed to take no 
further notice of its late captivity. If its nest is not finished, 
have no doubt I shall soon see it again seeking the wool. Ihe 
wind produced by the wings of these little birds is considerable, 
as I noticed that while hovering over a large piece of wool the 
whole surface of the wool was violently agitated. This same 
bird makes daily visits to the vases of flowers placed m the 
rooms. 
