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Show 70 MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM COSTA RICA. [Jan. 15, 245. PAPHIOSA HELEN^E, Del. I saw several male specimens of this species at San Carlos; but I was never able to get a shot at them. I have one female specimen from Turrialba. 246. DORYCHA BRYANTJE, Lawr. San Jose, March ; Volcano of Irazu, April. A very rare species. It appears as soon as it is daylight, and is very quick. It never rests long in one place. When on the wing it makes a great noise, similar to that of a large Coleopteron (Scarabeidae) when flying. 247. TROCHILUS COLUBRIS, Linn. One specimen, from San Jose, January. Seems to be very rare in Costa Rica. 248. SELASPHORUS SCINTILLA, Gould. Several specimens from Cartago, April; and Volcano of Irazu, May. Seen also at the high altitude of 10,000 feet in company with Selasphorus flammula. Feeds on the flowers of small plants. W h e n I say feeds on the flowers, I mean that it takes from the flowers not only the honey, but, above all, the minute insects which are inside. This is usual with all the Humming-birds. I have no doubt that they can live a certain time on honey only; but it is not sufficient, and their principal food is insects. It is very seldom that you skin a Humming-bird without finding the crop filled partially with insects of all descriptions. I have brought home a certain number of crops in alcohol. All of them contain insects, which I intend to determine as soon as possible. S. scintilla makes a very slight noise when flying ; it is not more than that of a drone-bee. The place where I killed m y specimens had been taken possession of by a certain number of Sancerottia sophice and Pyrrhopheena riefferi. Each one of these had its assigned place, and used to drive away any trespasser. I noticed that S. scintilla used to go only to the small plants near the ground ; and I have no doubt that the little noise made by the bird was to escape its enemies 5. sophice and P. riefferi. Flying very low was another precaution; however, the sight and the hearing of these little birds is so subtle that poor 8. scintilla was soon detected and obliged to fly away. I think this also is the reason why this species was rather scarce. 249. SELASPHORUS FLAMMULA, Salv. Several specimens, male and female, of this very rare species. All of them were killed at the summit of the Volcano of Irazu, on parasitic plants (mistletoe) growing on small alpine trees in a soil composed principally of ashes and scoriae. There, at the altitude of 10,000 feet and more, it takes possession of a locality where flowers are abundant, and defends its property against S. scintilla and other birds. |
