Dr. Burmeister informs us that he met with this Humming-bird in multitudes in the month of September among the orange-blossoms in the Quintas of Tucuman. It is a well-known species in South-east Brazil, but we know of no other record of its occurrence so far south as Tucuman. 234. PATAGONA GIGAS (Vieill.). (GIANT HUMMING-BIRD.) +Patagona gigas+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 89; _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 615 (Catamarca); _Elliot, Syn. Troch._ p. 67; _Gould, Mon. Troch._ iv. pl. 232. _Description._--Head and upper surface pale brown, glossed with green; wings and tail darker and more green; basal portion of the shafts of the lateral rectrices white; patch on the rump white; upper tail-coverts edged with white; breast mottled brown and buff; throat and abdomen rusty red; under tail-coverts white, with brownish centre spots; bill blackish brown; feet brown: whole length 7·0 inches, wing 4·9, tail 3·4. _Female_ similar but smaller. _Hab._ Andes of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, Chili, Patagonia, and Northern Argentina. White seems to be the only observer who has met with this Humming-bird within the limits of the Argentine Republic. He obtained a pair at Andalgala, in Catamarca, in September 1880, and wrote the following notes on the habits of the species:-- "This magnificent bird, which the natives say they have never seen before at Andalgala, was shot on the 'palan-palan,' the usual plant that it frequents at this season. It appeared here just after a two days' severe snow-storm, so that in all probability it had been driven down hither by it. "It is exceedingly powerful on the wing, and flutters in front of a flower, sipping the nectar, exactly as the smaller species of this family. They have a most peculiar, zig-zag, jerky flight; which, when making a long detour for any particular spot, becomes undulating. "They are without doubt partially insect-eaters, as I have not only observed their crops full of flies and small beetles, but have also seen them pursue and catch them in the air, with the motions of a Flycatcher. "They perch on some bare branch of a plant, which they entirely appropriate, driving off every other bird that dares to approach, and every now and then visit all its flowers to sip the sweets. The large humble-bees, however, cause them some trouble, as they likewise are addicted to sipping nectar; these the _P. gigas_ attacks with all its force, and by fluttering its wings, rushing at, pushing and pecking them, succeeds in ridding the spot of their presence. "The note of this bird is similar to the chirp of a young Sparrow, but much stronger. "These birds, like animals generally in the Argentine Republic, take no notice of a person mounted, but instantly disappear when a foot-passenger approaches; so that as I was on muleback I was enabled to ride close up to and observe them.