HYLOCHARIS CYANEUS,

White-throated Sapphire.

Trochilus cyaneus, Vieill. Nouy. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat., tom. xxiii p. 426.—Ib. Eney. Mé¢# O
ee ~~ ut P. 440.—ITb. Eney. Méth. Orn.,

Nat. Lib. MHumming-Birds, WO, 1, jo LOZ. jal 7.

Ornismya cyanea, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 199. pl. /1.—Supp p- 148. pl. 23

ren. of Birds, vol. i. pe lle Hylocharis, sp. 31.
Gen. Avy.. Das Thaumatias, sp. 10.

part u. p. 998.—Jard.

Hylocharis cyanea, Gray and Mitch. (

Thaumatias cyaneus, Bonap. Consp.

EE

Tuis charming little bird, which is, I believe, strictly confined to the easter

n part of Brazil, is very common
in every district from Bahia to Rio de

Janeiro; in which latter |

srovince Mr. Reeves informs me it may be
seen at all seasons. During the month o

f April it frequents the gardens of the city, adding another to
g country is famed. I am not only indebted to Mr. Reeves for
the above information, but also for the loan of a highly finished drawing of the nest and egos of this little
aithfully copied in the accompanying Plate. The construction of the
nests of birds, whether simple or complicated, at all times calls forth our admirat

the many charms for which that interestin

gem, fresh from nature, and which is

ion; but rarely has this
feeling been more forcibly elicited than on the sight of the elegant and beautiful nest made by this species,
for a fine example of which, the original of the drawing, I am also indebted to my valued correspondent.
It is of a cup-shaped, lengthened form, and constructed of some white cottony substance intermingled with
seeds of thistle-down, coated externally with bits of dried leaves, bound together with cobwebs, and
decorated with woody fibres, ribbon-like strips of the inner coating of the bark of trees, and other similar
materials ; these, however, are not always alike, but appear to depend upon the nature of those conveniently
at hand on the approach of the breeding season, no two nests being precisely alike in outward appearance,
though similar in form. The eggs are two in number, and about three-eighths of an inch in length. It
would be unjust to Mr. Reeves’s artist were I to conclude my account of the nest of this species without
mentioning in terms of approbation the beautiful and faithful manner in which he has represented this
delicate structure.
Some naturalists are of opinion that the numerous specimens sent to Europe as TES constitute
more than one species, and that those with a nearly uniform black bill are quite distinct from the true
cyanea; 1 have endeavoured to ascertain how far this opinion may be correct, but 7 have not as yet been
aile’satisfactorily to determine this point; and until more tangible differences are Honmod! uw occur, I must
consider them i be merely local varieties. Considerable difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes,

; : : “oat SO CONSPICUOUS 1 male.
the female being destitute of the rich blue on the head and throat so conspicuous in the me

I 2, with a few he feathers on the chin
The adult male has the head, throat and breast rich deep blue, with a few of - fee eee
I 1s ronze 2 er tail-coverts ;
ferts gree assing ‘eddish bronze on the upper te
white ; upper surface and wing-coverts green, passing into 1 Se
‘ j i . 7re 2ePHeE oO ac fe
‘ings purplis ‘own: tail bluish black ; under surface green ; bill fleshy red, deepening
wings purplish brown ; tail bluish black ; 2
fie feet brow 7
Bf fenat ‘ assing into rich bronze on the lower part of the back
The female has the head and upper surface green, passing a,
wines and tail as in the male, except that the outer feathers of the latter < |
Ss c c ay P
: 1 green on the sides, and the throat spotted with pale blue.
gre

a female, and a nest and eggs, all of the natural size.

‘l. in which the bird is found, but the name of
’

and upper tail-coverts ;
with greyish ; under surface grey, glossed witl

The accompanying Plate represents two males,
The little orchid is a species common to the woods of Braz

which is unknown to me.

a ard es
mero OIE RO) ONE Jae” Set on AN

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28