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Show 68 MR. A. B O U C A R D O N BIRDS F R O M COSTA RICA. [Jan. 15, branches near the ground. In the pairing-season they sing all day long; the note sounds like "bebe, bebef repeated a great many times in succession. Although it cannot be heard at a long distance, it is perfectly amazing and amusing to hear them. As soon as one finishes, another commences; and it is a puzzle to find where they are, although they may be only at two or three yards distance, on account of their colour and their diminutive size. When singing they move their head and tail in the most pretty way. Now and then they fly about, but soon return to their favourite branch. I have usually heard the song of these birds in the breeding-season, the males singing while the females are on their nests. When in Mexico I have heard many species of Humming-birds sing, and I could distinguish by its song what species it was. Their songs are very pretty, and quite distinct from one another, especially when they are of birds of distinct genera. I have heard Pygmornis adolphi, Campylopterus hemileucurus, Sphenoproctus cur-vipennis, Eugenes fulgens, Cceligena clemencice, Lamprolcema rhami, Delattria henrici, Petasophora thalassina, and several other species sing. 234. CAMPYLOPTERUS HEMILEUCURUS, Licht. Several specimens from Tres Rios, January ; and Rancho redondo, May. Rather rare in Costa Rica. Inhabits the forests; but takes its food as well on the flowers of trees growing close by in the open spaces. M y specimens were obtained when sucking the flowers of an acacia tree which is found abundantly in the coffee-plantations. It has a special sharp cry when flying about. It commonly constructs its nest in the barrancas, on the plants growing between the rocks, and generally uses moss for its construction. 235. EUGENES SPECTABILIS, Lawr. One male and one female of this very rare species, from the Volcano of Irazu, April and May. Altitude from 6000 to 8000 feet. It is very fond of a parasitic plant something like mistletoe, which bears a beautiful red flower. No description having been published of the male of this species, I give it now. Forehead dark metallic blue ; back black ; rump metallic green ; tail bronzy black, with the two central feathers more greenish ; wings black, with the upper coverts metallic green ; throat metallic dark green ; breast and abdomen greyish, mixed with green feathers; feet and beak black. Length 5-| inches, wing 3f, tail If, beak 11. (Mus. Boucard.) The chief distinctions between this species and Eugenes fulg ens are in its much larger size, its longer beak, its grey breast and abdomen, its back entirely black, and the colour of the crown and throat, which are quite of a different green and blue. 236. OREOPYRA CINEREICAUDA, Lawr. One specimen of this rare species, from Navarro, May. Inhabits the forest. |
