AMAZILIA GRAYSON I, Lawrence.
Grayson’s Amazili.
A m a d lia (Pyrrlwpluena) graysoni, Lawrence, Ann. L y c . N a t. H ist. N ew York, viii. p. 4 0 4
( 1 8 6 7 ) . ,
Polytmus graysoni, Gray, Hand-list o f B irds, i. p. 1 3 2 , no. 1 6 8 9 (1 8 6 9 ).
A m a d lia graysoni, S d a te r & Salvin, N om en c l. Av. Neotr. p. 9 2 (1 8 7 3 ) .— Mnlsant, H ist.
N a t. Oiseaux-Mouclies, i. p. 2 8 6 (1 8 7 4 ).— Ellio t, Synopsis o f th e Humming-
Birds, p. 2 1 9 (1 8 7 8 ) .
Pyrrlwpluena graysoni, Lawrence, Proc. Bbst. Soc. Hv. p . 2 8 3— Id. Mem. Boston Soc. N a t.
H ist. ii. p. 2 9 2 (1 8 7 4 ) .
A m a a lia graysoni, Eudes-Deslongchamps, Ann. Mus. d’H ist. N a t. de Caen, i. p. 4 0 2 (1 8 8 0 ) .
ms is a large race of A . cimamomea, but is certainly distinguishable. It appears to be confined to the
res Marias Islands, where it was discovered by the late Colonel Grayson, and it has since then been found
, the same locality by Mr. Forrer. . .
Colonel Grayson has given the following notes on the species as observed by I" E g g i g t0 *he
'res Marias it has been my good fortune to discover this new addition to the large groap to which it belongs.
This rather large Humming-bird is very abundant on the islands, where they seem to be continually at
ar with each other; in fact they attack every bird, and even the butterflies, should they approach some
hosen flowering plant which they guard unremittingly as their own treasnre. As they dart like a golden
unbeam through the woods, they often utter their shrill note of t'm et, t'weet, tm e t.
“ Sometimes combats between them become o f a desperate nature. One day while watching a number
,f them 1 active motion around some tobacco flowers (o f which they seem to he very fond) two fine males
fter darting at each other for some time, at length came to a deathly struggle, high above my head ; they
■ clinched each other, each having one the other in his month, at the same t.me scratching with them
laws and using their wings with the greatest force, and in this situatmn, whirlmg round and round, they
ell t'o the ground near my feet. During this terrible conflict, in which desperation and pass,on were
"debited, I observed them for a few seconds and then gently placed my hat over both; even after they
vere thus captured, and I held one in each hand, they evinced a deswe to continue the war.
1 1 have seen this species frequently darting from its perch upon passing diminutive fl.es, like a fly-
-ateher 1 found the gizzard, when examined, always well filled with them and other mmute msects.
’ -N either o f these species have I seen on the mainland; it would seem, therefore, that they g
entirely to this locality, where perhaps other species may yet be found.
■ Here amid such MM of flowers and leaves, and wild entanglement o f climbing plants and vegetable Mi mould he surprising if no others should he discovered in this favored spot, where the flowers seem
to lie with the brilliant tints of the j brave little humnimg-bmds.' , . . „ ,
-T h e hill HUH is l0"S' but HI arC',ed- del’reS8ed at taSe' HH HHH d
and below the rest black; the wing a little recurved, and of a H H H I ■ f l h™«1 f«**bers and
slightly forked, is of a deep cinnamon-,-ed, tipped with black and green reflections the balance of the upper
1 M B B with metallic reflections, slightly tinged with rnfous on the forehead. Entire uuderpa g
i H or rufous. Iris hrowu; foe, dark brown. Totai ieugth 4 7 5 inches, alar. ext. 6 5,