AMAZILIA GRAYSON]

NS 2 9 eye
Grayson’s Amazili.

Lawrence.

Amazilia (Pyrrhophena) graysoni, ere
(1867

Polytmus graysoni, Gray, Wand-list of Birds, i. p- 182, no. 1689 (1869)

Amazilia graysoni, Sclater & Salvin, Nomencl. Av. Neotr. .
Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, i. p-
Birds, p. 219 (1878).

Pyrrhophena graysoni, Lawrence, Proc. Bost. Soc. XIV. I
Hist. 11. p. 292 (1874).

Amazilia graysoni, Eudes-Deslongchamps, Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. de Caen, i. p. 402 (1880)

Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, viii. p. 404

ae a 92 (1873).—Mulsant, Hist.
#50 (1874) —Elliot, Synopsis of the Uumming-

). 283.—Id. Mem. Boston Soc. Nat.

 

Tuis is a large race of A. cinnamomea, but is certainly distinguishable. It appears to be confined to the
Tres Marias Islands, where it was discovered by the late Colonel Grayson, and it has since then been found
in the same locality by Mr. Forrer.

Colonel Grayson has given the following notes on the species as observed by him :—‘‘In my visit to the
Tres Marias it has been my good fortune to discover this new addition to the large group to which it belongs.

«This rather large Humming-bird is very abundant on the islands, where they seem to be continually at
war with each other; in fact they attack every bird, and even the butterflies, should they approach some
chosen flowering plant which they guard unremittingly as their own treasure. As they dart like a golden
sunbeam through the woods, they often utter their shrill note of @ weet, Cweet, f weet.

«Sometimes combats between them become of a desperate nature. One day while watching a number
of them in active motion around some tobacco flowers (of which they seem to be very fond) two fine males
after darting at each other for some time, at length came to a deathly struggle, high above my head ; they
finally clinched each other, each having one the other in his mouth, at the same time scratching with their
using their wings with the greatest force, and in this situation, whirling round and round, they
During this terrible conflict, in which desperation and passion were
after they

claws, and
fell to the ground near my feet.
exhibited, I observed them for a few seconds and then gently placed my hat over both; even
d, and J held one in each band, they evinced a desire to continue the war.

were thus capture
passing diminutive flies, like a real fly-

“T have seen this species frequently darting from its perch upon
d, always well filled with them and other minute insects.

eatcher. I found the gizzard, when examine
it would seem, therefore, that they belong

“Neither of these species have I seen on the mainland ;
t be found.

anglement of climbing plants and vegetable
favored spot, where the flowers seem

entirely to this locality, where perhaps other species may ye

“ Here amid such luxuriance of flowers and leaves, and wild ent
glory, it would be surprising if no others should be discovered in this
to vie with the brilliant tints of the ‘ brave little humm ' ;
long, but slightly arched, depressed at base, where it is orange-yellow above
, lofa purplish-brown ; tail with broad feathers and
ections, the balance of the upper
Entire underparts

ig-birds.’

“The bill of this species is
and below, the rest black; the wing a little recurved, anc
amon-red, tipped with black and gre
d with rufous on the forehead.
Total length 4:75 inches, alar. ext. 6:5,

: : ; on refl
slightly forked, is of a deep cinn =
parts golden-green with metallic reflections, slightly tinge

light cimmamon-red or rufous. Iris brown ; feet dark brown.

bill 1-02, tail 1°75.” (R. B. S.J