oe
=
= dla
a
Se ah :
rere te
C09 SOE SO COGIC EOC SOPE SOSH OVE OO CCC OTE U EEE SCSEEEUOE OVE EOD EHO SEHULUGEHUESTUNUUEEELUeUVEeUEeES
4
XG RN
COSC UC OCCCO TE GE EE OSEOCO COST EGOEEEULESTCECUCEHEOEES
euegecaue
> = se > 4 a
4 = ei Y a . =>:
added ditt d aah hhh Aad aaa ate ALTA PET i ere)
or > a Ce
: te ae c
ER. er ee
Poa rice ee
929398008950985259500505
Lorn OMG bo bO
INI
to ©
oO
So
281
bo bo
co ©
oo bo
SON BOY
PAN.
\
‘ j
x » j
a
5
4
,
\
\
A
pe
&
V
‘ li
\ '
4
5
3 =.
ee ame =
ae
«
SST eee
NO ans
ee
CHRYSOLAMPIS MOSCHITUS.
Ruby and Topaz.
Trochilus moschitus, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. 1. p. 192.—Ib. Gmel. Edit., tom. i. p. 494.—Vieill.
Ency. Méth. Orn., part ii. p. 570.—Swains. Birds of Brazil, pl. 30.—Pr. Max.
Beitr. zur Naturg. von Bras., p. 56.—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. i. p. 103.
lee
Mellisuga Brasiliensis, gutture topazino, Briss. Orn., tom. Tit, p. O99: ply soocvn, ee:
Le Rubis-topaze, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 19.—Audeb. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. 1.
pp- 62, 64, 102, 103, 104. pls. 29, 30, 54, 55, 56.
L’ Oiseau mouche @ gorge topaze du Brésil, Buff. Pl. Enl. 227. fig. 2, et 640. fig. 1.
L’ Oiseau-mouche @ gosier doré, Audeb. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. eos alee
Ornismya moschita, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 166. pls. 52, 53, 54.—Ib. Traité d’Orn.,
p- 280.
Chrysolampis moschitus, Boie in Oken’s Isis, 1831.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 82, Chrysolampis,
sp. 1.
Mellisuga moschita, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 253.—Gray and Mitch. Gen.
of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 96.
Chrysolampis mosquitus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256.—Reichenb. Aufz. der
Colibris, p. 9.—Ib. Troch. enumer., p. 5. pl Dexa.
Trochilus pegasus, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 495°
—________ gujanensis, Ib., p. 498 ?—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 317.
—_______ carbunculus, Tb., p. 498.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. 1. p. oles
elatus, Ib., p. 499.
Mellisuga Cayanensis, ventre griseo, Briss. Orn., tom. iii. p. 709. pl. xxxvi. fig. 4°
L’ Oiseau mouche de la Guiane, Audeb. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. p. 116?
L’ Escarboucle, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 28.—Audeb. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. 1.
p- 102. pl. 54.
Guiana Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. 11. p. 781.—lb. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 336?
Carbuncle Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. 1. p. 782.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 333.
—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 337.
Grey-bellied Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 3384 ?—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii.
p. 332?
Ruby-necked Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. i. p. 779.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 330.
Chrysolampis carbunculus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 9.—Ib. Troch. enumer., p. 9.
pl. pecxxiit. fig. 4650.
Small green and crimson Humming Bird, Bancroft’s Guiana, p. 168.
Trochilus with a ferruginous tail, Bancroft’s Guiana, p. 168.
Aurora Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 338.
Ruby-headed Humming Bird, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p. 329. pl. 42.
Brown-crowned Humming Bird, Trochilus hypopheus, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 333 ?
Ir any one species of this extensive family of birds be better known than another, it is undoubtedly the Ruby
and Topaz Humming Bird here represented, for it is not only one of those earliest discovered, but its beauty
is of such a character as at once to fix the attention of every observer. It is also one of the commonest of
the entire group, and plays no inconsiderable part in commerce, the capturing and skinning of the
specimens which are sent home by thousands affording considerable employment to the Brazilian slaves
Fea 0 A mS ma PE AN a Se
iC}
AG
LAL G
5 :
| t tl > | “(| unter 4 * > | IC eYV a age ‘a
an ) yl moun er in Yul P c ft Qe > >» 6
c Cc o tne Ss Ope in \
: ANS or glas shade as ornaments for
ats 5 “ds arranged under Yiass S
the groups of bu
and others in its native country,
forming a conspicuous object among |
ane ;. for which indeed few are be | ; » and toa
eee ee Such are the purposes to which the skins of this species are
C
tter adapted, as its brilliant ruby crown and topaz throat
ver ade eae 7
are there shown to great advantage. ee
i ‘form ina state of nature ¢
ied ; 7 +t does it perform in a sta thing i
ean ; ccribed for more than a hundred years, and its native country
for although the bird has now been described for more : :
a ee f them has placed on record any details as to its
Alas! on this subject nothing whatever is
repeatedly ie item by mente using pple: ae ae interesting to be made acquainted, for it can
habits or economy, with all of which it would be most interesting to b a | | oo
7 as 2e 2S / a upon it withou some spec c 5 se
scarcely be supposed that so much beauty has been bestowed uy
ic Brazil is stated to be one of the countries inhabited by the Ruby and Topaz, accordine as the
best Fen recent authority, Mr. Reeves, it is not found so far south Rio de aa my 7
common in Bahia and Pernambuco, where, however, it only pematns during : part of the year ; rae
these localities northward, in each of the Guianas, the island of Trinidad, the Caraccas, and a great part of
Columbia, it everywhere occurs in abundance. _ It is said to perch occasionally on the more loa branenes
of the flowering Recs and shrubs it frequents, and to spread its large rounded tail to the fullest extent like
the Peacock, and that it then appears to the greatest advantage.
Some minute differences occur in the colouring and in the size of Columbian, when compared with
Brazilian specimens; they appear, however, to be mere local variations, similar to those observable
among many other birds. But endless indeed are the changes which take place in the plumage of the
bird between youth and maturity, and so puzzling are they, that, after the most careful examination of
numberless examples, I am unable even now to form any very distinct ideas on the subject. ‘These changes
it is which have occasioned the confusion existing with respect to this species in the works of the older
authors, and which has led them to regard each state as characteristic of a specific difference, the result
being, a list of synonyms pertaining to this bird, unsurpassed perhaps in
number by those of any other
species.
The nest is a round cup-shaped structure, composed of cottony materials, and decorated externally with
leaves and small patches of lichens.
Descriptions of the more important of tl
1€ various states of plumage above alluded to are here given ;
but it is impossible to say to w
hich sex they belong, as that can only be determined by dissection.
At a very young ag , surf: + : : ; .
ae a a § age the upper surface is bronzy brown, with a crescent of rufous at the tip of each
eather; the tail br : al arr oa ee : : : : :
é ; ail bronzy brown, faintly barred with rufous and tipped with white; under surface brownish
grey.
In another stage the head and back are |
- ronzy greenish brown ;
with rufous; the tail is br
onzy purple, the outer feathers be
a stripe of metallic topaz-coloured feathers dow
In a third state we find the head
tail-feathers bronzy green, deepening into bl
base, then black, and tipped with white
coloured metallic feathers dow
In a fourth state the head i
green, deepening into black
and tipped with white ;
the centre of the throat.
In the fully adult State, the m
and br
the rump-feathers are broadly tipped
ing tipped with white; under surface grey, with
n the centre of the throat.
and all the Upper surface coppery bronze : rump bronzy green; central
ack towards the extre he
under surface
n the centre of the throat,
s dull brown; back bronzy brown ;
mity; the lateral tail-feathers grey at the
Srey, and in some specimens a few of the topaz
Yump green; central tail-feathers bronzy
ateral feathers chestnut-red
with a large
at the extremity - |
under surface oy y; the ] at the base, then purplish,
surface grey,
srey patch of the topaz-coloured metallic feathers on
ale has the forehead, crown, occiput
ellow ; all the upper
ark chestnut-y
and feet blackish 1
the two sexe
d to the drawings
east. resplendent topaz-y
wings purplish brown ; tail rich d
under tail-coyerts rufous ; bill
The Plate represents
me, I am indebte
and nape metallic ruby-red ; chin, throat
surface and wing-coverts dark velvety bronzy brown 3
ed, slightly tinned w: | - ;
> Slightly tipped with black ; abdomen dark olive-brown ;
orown.
S of the size of life,
For the
of T. Reeves,
plant, the name of which is unknown to
Esq.
os hee re
Sn Rr
~4
Ke
y
:
S
at
f
bi
‘
d Sp feta se oe
+> 1, = ebb pier
fy
2
Ee)
3
a
a
”
N G
rig .
PAX
ee
Dar
ay Ms
ss
&
r
NE 3 il A Ms | : Ss : 4 { 3 . B ") 7 r - a _—
. Kon : We
Bild ral wl 09 2 Le meet
ORTHORHYNCHUS CRISTATUS.
Blue-Crest.
Trochilus cristatus, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. 1. p. 192.—Ib. Gmel. Edit., tom. 1. p. 498.—Lath.
Ind. Orn., tom. i. p. 317.—Swains. Birds of Brazil, pl. 21.—Vieill. Eney. Méth.
Orn., part 2. p. 565. pl. 131. fig. 3.—Schomb. Hist. of Barbadoes, p. 681.
Mellisuga cristata, Briss. Orn., tom. iii. p. 714. pl. xxxvii. fig. 2.—Id. 8vo, tom. ii. p. 85.—Gray
and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 98.
L’Oiseau-mouche huppé, Butt. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 22.—Ib. Sonn. Edit., tom. xvii.
p. 173.
L Oiseau-mouche huppé de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 227. fig. 1.
Crested Humming-bird, Edw. Nat. Hist. of Birds, vol. i. p. 37. pl. 37.
Crested Green Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 783.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vin.
p- 352. pl. 44.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 339.
Orthorhynchus cristatus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 83, Orthorhynchus, sp. ].—Reichenb. Aufz.
der Colibris, p. 11.—Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256.
Ornismya cristata, Less. Les Troch., p. 20. pl. 4.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p. 285.—lIb. Ind. Gen. et
Syn. des Ois. du Gen. Trochilus, p. xxx.
Trochilus pileatus, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. 1. p. 318.
—____—— puniceus, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 497.
L’ Oiseau-mouche a huppé bleue, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. 1. p. 112. pl. 63.
Crested Brown Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. 1. p. 784.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii.
p. 354.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 340.
Iv will have been noticed, while perusing the pages of the present work, that many species of Hummig-
birds are confined to very small areas of country, some to the cones of lofty mountains, and some to the
craters of extinct voleanos, while others are migratory, and extend their range over vast regions. A
similar law appears to govern some at least of the species inhabiting the West Indian Islands: for instance,
two species are found in Jamaica, which up to the present time have not been detected in St. Domingo ;
on the other hand, of the St. Domingo species two at least are not found in Jamaica: and not only does
this law appear to prevail on those two islands alone, the largest of the West Indian group, but to extend to
the smaller islands also, most of them being inhabited by a species peculiarly its own ; hence it becomes a
matter of much interest to ascertain to which of the islands the numerous species of the West Indian
Humming-birds really belong. I am aware that in making the above remarks I am digressing from the
more immediate subject of the present paper—the history of Orthorhynchus eristatus 5 but I have done so
intentionally, in order to point out the utter confusion which exists with regard to the localities given by
the older authors, whose errors, I regret to say, have been perpetuated by most of the more recent writers
on the Trochilide ; thus, one and all of them give St. Domingo as the habitat of the present bird, while, so
far as I have been able to ascertain, it is not found within hundreds of miles of that island; and, although I
am unable to give the extent of its range, or how many of the islands it frequents, I can positively state that it
‘s a native of Barbadoes, and I believe of St. Vincent’s also. In Martinique its place appears to be occupied
by a nearly allied species—the Orthorhynchus ewvilis. A complete survey of the W indward and Leeward
Islands, furnishing an account of the fauna of each, by some competent person, would, in a scientific point
of view, be attended with the most interesting results; and I trust the time is not far distant when such a
task will be undertaken and accomplished. Up to the present time, numerous examples of this bird, -its
nest and eges, have been sent to Europe, but hitherto not one word has been recorded respecting its
re
aod = 2 a Be iO} a hs as Py Bt
nt of which would doubtless prove highly interesting, as they probably
actions and habits ; an accou
group as the
from those of the members of the
he Trochilidz, the sexes present a marked difference in appearance,
peculiar
differ as much
As is very commonly the case among t
adorns the male being entirely wantil
in Barbadoes, and specimens collected by him are contained
bird does in its form and colouring.
the beautiful crest which 1@ in the opposite sex.
Sir Robert Schomburgk found this bird
in the Collection at the British Museum.
it is the only Humming-bird observed by him in that island.
As will be seen on reference to his ‘‘ History of Barbadoes,”
The male has the forehead and crown rich golden-green, blending into the rich deep blue of the elongated
crest-feathers ; sides and back of the head, upper surface of the body, wing- and tail-coverts dark grass-
green; wings purplish-brown ; two centre tail-feathers dark ]
under surface dull black, with a wash of grey on the throat ; bill and feet blackish-brown.
The female has the head, all the upper surface, wing- and. tail-coverts bronzy-green ; wings purplish-
brown; central tail-feathers dark bronzy-green, the remainder purplish-black, the two outer on each side
yurplish-green, the remainder purplish-black ;
slightly tipped with grey ; under surface dark smoky-grey, somewhat lighter on the throat.
ry @
he accompanying Plate represents two males and a female, of the size of life. ‘The plant is the Calhandra
brevipes.
NY
&
~N
aS
x
Ss
K,
RS
S
~
~
SS
op
ym
as AS
- { oa ee see ee th
, a Sf )
| —
; '
, 2
ZA
; [ee
f :
ja
Ee 5
: pat
5 =
re my
cea Z
i
, 3
>)
: Hl
b
oa 2
a :
= EF
Re | a)
ct 3s . .
- ; ;
oy 1k
; a a
re
”
G
7
>
ORTHORHYNCHUS ORNATUS, Gow.
Green and Blue Crest.
L Oiseau-mouche huppé, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois.-Mou., p. 113. pls. 31, 32°
INDEPENDENTLY of examples of Orthorynchus cristatus and O. ewilis, specimens of a third species somewhat
intermediate in the form and colouring of the crest have for many years been contained in the Loddigesian
collection at Hackney, and in my own; but from which of the West India Islands they were sent, is unknown.
For this bird I propose the name of O. ornatus. Its crest is longer than that of either of its allies, and the
point, and point only, is blue; whereas in the O. cristatus the blue and green colouring is nearly equally
divided, and in O. eailis the crest is wholly green. In the colouring of their bodies the three species are very
similar. This is the bird alluded to in my account of O. exiis as being intermediate between that
species and O. cristatus.
The following remark and description have already appeared in the Introduction, but I cannot perhaps do
better than reproduce them here.
This species bears a general resemblance to the O. cristatus, but differs from that bird in being of a
somewhat smaller size, and in having the basal two-thirds of the crest glittering green and the tip only blue ;
the crest is also longer and more elegant in form than that of C. cristatus or C. ewilis. With the latter it
can never be confounded, while the former may always be distinguished from it by the truncate form of the
green portion of its crest. It is just possible that the birds represented on the 31st and 32nd _ plates of
Lesson’s ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches’ may have reference to this bird.
Basal two-thirds of the crest green, the apical third blue; upper surface deep grass-green ; throat dark
smoky grey, becoming much darker on the abdomen ; flanks glossed with green ; wings and tail purplish
black ; bill black.
Total length 3+ inches ; bill 2 ; wing 17; tail 17.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Ziesona sanguinea.
CF (Ze Ce AO ee FN ee TP ae BR CY EN FN CT SS A re a a se ee
Cee A CSS
1 4 Walton, Imp
fikbrnandk &
Nes
= AAAS:
[aa
a4
on
ee
pr
)
fa
De
tes S G
Py a,
2
\
Gy
Cee a CS ee
FO
BVOFS OF WO Rey fe Ne Blot. CAC EN NS le COD RA OLLI ELE ea ree
ORTHORHYNCHUS EXILIS.
Gilt-Crest.
Trochilus exilis, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 484.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. 1. p. 310.
—Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., part 2. p. 550.
L’ Oiseau-mouche huppé, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. pp. 91, 92. pls. 47, 48.
Mellisuga exilis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Melhisuga, sp. 98.
Trochilus cristatellus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxxix.—Vieill. Eney. Méth. Orn., part 2. p. 556.
Gilt-crested Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 171.—Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. vill.
p. 315.
Little Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 764.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 319.—
Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 320.
All-green Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 357, var. C.
Orthorhynchus chlorolophus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 83, Orthorhynchus, sp. 2.
____-_ ewilis, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col., p.11.—Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 265.
ALrnoucH presenting a general similarity to the Orthorhynchus cristatus, the present species may be at all
times distinguished from that bird by the more uniform colouring of its crest, which is a beautiful metallic
golden-green, with a somewhat deeper golden hue at the base; it is also rather smaller in all its proportions,
but particularly in its body and wings.
The utmost confusion exists with regard to the synonymy of this species and its near ally, O. eristatus ‘
numerous names having been assigned to them separately and collectively, which, combined with the
defectiveness of the descriptions accompanying them, have rendered it no easy task to unravel, and this being
done, the result, I regret to say, is not very satisfactory ; I believe, however, that Gmelin’s description of
the bird he has called evs has reference to the species here figured, and hence it is the name adopted.
M. Bourcier is of opinion that the birds figured on the 31st and 32nd Plates of Lesson’s ‘“ Histoire
Naturelle des Oiseaux Mouches ” are identical with the present species; but I am inclined to consider them
distinct, both from the O. exis and O. cristatus, as I possess a bird intermediate between these two species,
and which accords closely with Lesson’s figures.
M. Bourcier and other French ornithologists give Martinique as one of the West Indian Islands in which
it is found; and Mr. Cottle informs me that it also occurs in Nevis, that it frequents the low grounds, builds
a small round compact nest, and lays two white eggs.
I possess a nest of this species, presented to me by M. Bourcier; it is a very diminutive cup-shaped
structure, and is composed of cotton interspersed with involucres of some composite plant, bound together
and attached to the upper side of a small twig with fine cobwebs.
The sexes of the present species, like those of O. eristatus, differ very considerably ; the female being
destitute of the crest, and of a light smoky-grey on the under surface.
The male has the forehead and crown golden-green, blending with the blue-green of the elongated crest-
feathers ; sides and back of the head, upper surface of the body, wing- and tail-coverts dark bronzy-green ;
wings purplish-brown; two centre tail-feathers dark bronzy-green, the remainder purplish-black ; under
surface dark or smoky-brown, with a wash of grey on the throat ; bill and feet blackish-brown.
The female has the head, all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts and two centre tail-feathers bronzy-
green; the lateral tail-feathers purplish-black tipped with grey; throat and under surface pale smoky-
brown.
The Plate represents two males, a female and a nest, all of the size of life.
YF i a NS ae ree
a wa
' OS elae! al
Woe
iy
Tow iw 2 FS
x“
So
oN ES
Me Seo
Fd tes a
Rat
(7
et
al
Titlmundel & Walton tmp
DS LA LA NDT,
CEIPELA LiKP
]
o°
i
~ |
s x
x rat
&
RS ;
S Zs
3 | f
FOO
Ro-e{)o-
| ON
Fg NNR DN | CS TY eB OS BY SND
CEPHALEPIS DELALANDI.
De Lalande’s Plover-crest.
Trochilus Delalandi, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. Qnde Edit., tom. xxiii. p. 427, pl. G 36.
fig. 3.—Ib. Encey. Méth. Orn., part ti. p. 558.—Ib. Ois. dor., tom. iii. ined. pl. 7.
— Nena, Jl. Col, ile, ime. Il, 2.—Valene. Dict. Sci. Nat., tom. xxxv. p. 492.—
Drapiez, Dict. Class. d’Hist. Nat., tom. iv. p. 322.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. 11.
p- 76.—Ib. Ind. Gen. et Syn. du Gen. Trochilus, p. xxx.—Swains. Birds of
Brazil, pl. 22.—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. i. p. 101. fol WO: wok wi
oo aD leee
Ornismya Delalandi, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 95. pls. 238 & 24; Supp. p. 136. pl. 19.
—Ib. Les Troch., p. 118. pl. 41.
Trochilus versicolor, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxui. p. 430.—Ib. Ois. dor., tom. 11.
ined. pl. 12.—Ib. Eney. Méth. Orn., part 1. p. 560.
Mellisuga Delalandi, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Melhsuga, sp. 99.
Cephalepis lalandu, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 83, Cephalepis, sp. 1.—Ib. Consp. Troch. in
Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256.
Tur southern portion of Brazil is the true habitat of this graceful species of Humming-Bird, which was
first discovered by MM. Delalande and Meénétrier, to the former of whom it has been dedicated. Mr.
Reeves informs me that it inhabits Rio de Janeiro, Minas Geraes, and Santa Catherina, but he was
unaware whether it remains in those provinces all the year or not.
The lengthened crest, which adds so much to the beauty and elegance of the Cephalepis Delaland:,
terminates in a single elongated plume,
a very remarkable circumstance, since the feathers of birds are
usually arranged in pairs.
I possess two nests of this species, one of which was kindly forwarded to me by Mr. Reeves of Rio de
Janeiro. One is of a much more lengthened form than the other, but both are composed of the same
materials, namely fine fibrous roots, moss, lichens, and involucres of a composite plant, the whole matted
together with spiders’ webs of so fine a kind that they are almost imperceptible ; both had been suspended
among the fine twigs of a species of Bamboo. ‘
A marked difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes, the lengthened glittering crest and rich azure-
blue breast which render the male so conspicuous, being wholly wanting in the female.
The male has the forehead, crown, aud shorter feathers of the crest glittering grass-green ; lengthened
crest-plume black ; upper surface and wing-coverts shining green with bronzy reflexions ; behind the eye a
small spot of white; wings purplish brown ; central tail-feathers green; the remainder greenish at the base,
passing into black near the end, and fading at the tip to greyish white; on the lateral feathers the extent
of the greenish hue lessens as the feathers recede from the centre; chin, sides of the chest, flanks and
under tail-coverts brownish grey; centre of the throat, breast and abdomen intense shining violet-blue ;
under tail-coverts grey, glossed with green; bill black.
The female has the head and upper surface green with bronzy reflexions, a mark of white behind the eye ;
all the under surface dull greyish brown; central tail-feathers golden green, the remainder green at the
base, passing into dull black, the outer one largely and the remainder slightly tipped with white.
The figures represent a male, a female, and a nest, of the natural size.
-
. (er)
> a =
2ei =
ae
| =
| v =
2
a
J
Al
S
: }
. |
c
A
®
i: |
: |
)
: |
i | :
| S if ig
Ea
3 — “
3 —_ 2
= ad
= f3
— $
— Ni Ne
ys
|
ead
ces Cr OE ET EET OR I TC SEY ON es eA AY YN eden
a . Zt © > %, ig OK roy SNe ; UN < ~ ES - 2 ew -
SR Om ae BEA Nee: mx bes as oe RRA BA Ba: vs a = on meen 8 eran
OMT Le oe ay
Bese BOY $
A . “9 ii n Ke
cA a ahs
CEPHALEPIS LODDIGESI, Gowid.
Loddiges’ Plover-crest.
Trochilus Loddigesii, Gould in Proe. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part 1. p. 12.
—Less. Les Troch., p. 138. pl. 51.—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. 1. p. Ove
pl. 6.—Less. Ind. Gen. et Syn. du Gen. Trochilus, p. xxx.
opisthocomus, Licht. Ermann, Verz. von Thier. und Pflanz., p. 6. t. 2. fig. 3.
Mellisuga Loddigesu, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Mellisuga, sp. 100.
Cephalepis loddigesi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., Cephalepis, sp. 2.—Ib. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et
Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256.
Tur specific name of Loddigest was given to this bird by myself in 1880, when characterizing a specimen
said to have been sent from Rio Grande. At this distance of time, my memory does not tell me how I
became possessed of this fine bird, or what authority I had for the locality in which it was said to have been
found; the specimens I have since received were collected, I believe, in Minas Geraes, but the only point
that is certain respecting them is, that they came to me by way of Rio de Janeiro.
In dedicating this, the first Humming Bird I had the pleasure of describing, to Mr. George Loddiges, I
was anxious to pay a just tribute of esteem to an old friend, and to one who was the first to take up the
study of the Trochilide in a scientific manner. Had his valuable life been spared, no one would have been
more delighted than himself with the many beautiful accessions to the group acquired during the last few
years.
The Cephalepis Loddigesi differs in many particulars from the older known C. Delalandi, especially in its
more lengthened bill, its violet-coloured crest, and the greater amount of white on the tips of the tail-
feathers.
The female, on the other hand, offers so close a resemblance to that of C. Delalandi, as to be scarcely
distinguishable.
The male has the forehead, crown, and shorter feathers of the crest shining lilaceous blue ; lengthened
crest-plume black; upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy green; wings purplish brown ; central tail-
feathers bronzy green, the remainder bronzy green at the base, passing into black near the extremity and
tipped with white, the white increasing in extent as the feathers recede from the centre; behind the eye a
small oval patch of white; chin, sides of the neck, flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts brownish grey; centre
of the breast and abdomen very dark blue ;_ bill brownish black.
The female has the whole of the upper surface bronzy green; a small patch of white behind the eye ;
under surface dull greyish brown ; wings and tail as in the male.
The Plate represents both sexes of the size of life.
OE ORT (NORE OM NO ee OS OR eS v VY Oe OF eee
Bie
ca)
i a
Ss
.
a
a
«
3
a
7
A
oS
\
=”
oN
(a
m8
ee
fos
‘J
niere |e
PS
. OU
ri
re ~~
Inf
Hi y lta,
i dla” das Tl
—— Se 4
a -4
- —f
—— a — - - —_—___——} &
KLAIS GUIMETI.
Guimet’s Flutterer.
Trochilus Guimeti, Boure. et Muls. Ann. de la Soc. Sci. de Lyon, tom. vi. 1848, p. 38. pl. 2.—
Ib. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 72.
Hylocharis Guimeti, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 33.
Klas Guimeti, Reich. Aufz. der Col., p. 13.
Myiabeitha gumeti, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 253.
Tuts highly curious and interesting little Humming-bird stands quite alone among the numerous species of
the great family of the Zrochihde, presenting, as it does, so many peculiar characters, that it is not easy to
say to which of the genera it 1s most nearly allied: perhaps that of MZpadeillia is the one to which it
presents the greatest affinity. Its native country is the Caraccas, whence numerous specimens were brought
by the late Mr. David Dyson. I believe its habitat to be somewhat limited, and that it is probably confined
to the secondary hills which stretch away to the eastward of the great Columbian ranges. Besides the
Caraccas, Dr. Reichenbach states that the countries of Columbia, Venezuela, and Veragua are visited by it ;
and such is probably the case, as it certainly occurs, although but sparingly, in collections from Bogota.
MM. Bourcier and Mulsant have dedicated this species to M. Guimet, a chemist of Lyons, the
inventor of a peculiar blue which bears his name.
The sexes are very dissimilar, the female being dressed in a dingy garb as compared with that of the
male. The accompanying drawing and the following descriptions will fully illustrate the sexes and the
differences of their colouring.
The male has the head, face and throat very deep rich blue ; all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts
green; wings purplish-brown; under surface dull bronzy-green; two centre tail-feathers bronzy-green, the
remainder bronzy-green at the base, then dull black, and slightly tipped with grey; behind the eye a small
mark of pure white ; bill black; feet dark brown.
The female has the crown of the head slightly tinged with bluish-green; upper surface golden-green ;
wings purplish-brown ; tail as in the male, but the lateral feathers more largely tipped with grey; all the
under surface grey, glossed on the sides of the neck and flanks with bronze.
The Plate represents the sexes of the natural size.
i
ci Tic
N2chrter
[nip
VT te
FAS DAN
ONS ae
rahe"
MYIABIELLIA TYPICA.
Abeille’s Flutterer.
Trochilus Abeillei, De Latt. et Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 16.
Mellisuga Abeillei, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Melhsuga, sp. 37.
Ramphomicron abeilli, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 79, Ramphomicron, sp. 4.
Myjiabeillia typica, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 253.
«Tus species,” says M. De Lattre, ‘usually confines itself to the forests, but also seeks its food among
the wild flowers in the vicinity of Jalapa. Its flight is airy and buoyant, not unlike that of some of the
moths. In its habits it is very unsociable, and the least thing alarms it.”
That it enjoys a wide range of habitat is certain, as, besides being found near Jalapa, as mentioned by
M. De Lattre, I have lately received from George Ure Skinner, Esq., now (1894) resident in Guatemala,
examples of both sexes, which had been killed in Coban by M. Riviera Paz, a young Guatemalan naturalist
of very promising attainments.
Mr. Skinner has been well known for many years to the lovers of botany, as one to whom they are
greatly indebted for unfolding the botanical riches of South America, and especially of Guatemala. At my
request he has now kindly consented to pay as much attention as circumstances will admit to the lovely
group of birds forming the subject of the present work, and some of the interesting species which I have
recently obtained, have been procured through his instrumentality. Two branches of science having
therefore been promoted in no slight degree by his energies, I have much pleasure in figuring the present
pretty Humming-Bird, with the exquisite orchid named Lycaste Skinnert in honour of this gentleman.
The Myiabeillia typica, as its name implies, is the first species of the form that has been named; indeed
it is the only one of the genus that has yet been discovered. In point of beauty this bird has but little to
"recommend it, a small patch of glittering green on the throat being all the metallic or brilliant colouring
Q
with which it is decorated.
The male has the head, wing-coverts, upper surface, two central tail-feathers, sides of the neck and
flanks dark bronzy grass-green ; wings purplish brown ; lateral tail-feathers black, tipped with grey; on the
throat a patch of brilliant grass-green ; centre of the chest dull black ; abdomen ashy grey; under tail-
coverts pale green, edged with dark grey.
The female differs in having the whole of the under surface brownish grey.
The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life.
CE | SCR OT (eNO Oe | LO) ey fa eee GALEN BCX I SNORT ICS SS OF I A IS a
tan nla Alt lat alana Ae tl aman
ome ell
roxk
2) Be
7 Bw LY
APA
NAN
i
A)
wer
UII
Ws
w
Td Walton, Lp
Hrliaande
“
HELIACTIN CORNUTA.
Sun Gem.
Trochilus cornutus, Pr. Max. Beitr. zur Naturg. von Bras., p. 99.—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming
Birds, vol. i. p. 122. pls. 21, 22
—_—— dilophus, Vieill. Eney. Méth. Orn., part u. p. 573.
—___— bilophus, Temm. PI. Col. 18. fig. 3.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 76.
Ormismya chrysolopha, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 55. pls. 7, 8.—Ib. Supp. p. 162.
pl. 32.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p. 276.
Mellisuga bilopha, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 251. pl. 30.
Heliactin cornuta, Boie, in Oken’s Isis, 1831.
—__—— cornutus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 85.—Ib. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256.
Mellisuga cornuta, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 67.
Heliactinia chrysolopha, Reichenb. Autz. der Colibris, p. 12.—Ib. Troch. enumer., p. 9.
Every enthusiastic naturalist, when studying the productions of that vast portion of the globe which we
comprehensively term the “Continent of America,” becomes amazed at the prodigality with which Nature
has lavished her treasures throughout the temperate and more especially the intertropical regions of that
let
him turn to whatever department of science he may, he becomes enchanted with the prospect around
him,—everywhere the utmost variety is presented, and all is beautiful in the extreme ;—the inexhaust-
enormous expanse of land. It matters little whether he direct his attention to its flora or its fauna,
ible stores of minerals, the varied forms of the Orchidaceous and other curious plants, the splendour
of the insects and the beauty of the birds which give life to the forests, call forth his admiration. In
the physical geography of the country, too, an equal variety exists,—vast plains, great rivers bordered with
interminable forests, and towering Cordilleras, each giving birth to a distinct flora and a distinct
fauna; and not only so, but at different elevations, even in the same latitudes, to species and even genera
which are not to be found elsewhere. These remarks might be extended to a much greater length ; but as
the subject will be found more fully treated of in another part of the work, it would be out of place to
comment at large upon them here. It would be very gratifying to me to give some information respecting
the habits and economy of this bird; but unfortunately all that is known respecting it is, that it is an
inhabitant of the mountain-ranges of Brazil, particularly those of Minas Geraes ; and well does this elegant
little bird represent in the air the brilliants which lie hidden in the deep primitive rocks over which it flies :
fairy-like in form and colour, we might easily imagine that one of the jewels had become vivified and had
taken wing.
For the discovery of this remarkable species we are indebted to the researches of His Highness the Prince
Maximilian of Wied, who first described it in his “‘ Voyage to Brazil” under the name of Trochilus cornutus,
and who states that it inhabits the exalted Campos Geraes of Brazil, near the sources of the river San
Francisco. Mr. Reeves informs me that Minas Geraes is the only province from which he had received
specimens.
M. Bourcier states, that ‘during the dry season it principally frequents the open country in the neigh-
bourhood of marshes, and obtains its food from the small plants which there abound ; and that it re-enters
a A)
OS) M0 £28... fe). Ble a ED A NAT RN CY ESN TOE DLS OS a Sa a TT I a a ea
oT
Pi [7
MAP WAN’ F DA RAN?
the woods during the rainy season, and then seeks its food among the flowers of the various Orchids. — It is
2 2 + ° . 7 ee eo ; s a i
in the district of the river of St Francisco du Nord, in the province of Minas Geraes, that it 1s found in
in t stric : “1s
abundance.” ay : th | a
The sexes differ very considerably both in colour and in size, the female being somewhat the largest,
having a much longer tail, and being destitute of the beautiful tufts and black throat which form such
conspicuous features in the male.
The male has the forehead and crown shining ereenish blue; above and behind the eye a series of
elongated feathers of the richest fiery crimson at the base, passing into greenish yellow at the tip; throat,
sides of the face, and a narrow tuft depending from the base of the throat, deep velvety black; back and
wing-coverts bronzy green; wings purplish brown ; two centre tail-feathers pale olive-brown, the remainder
white, edged externally with olive-brown ; breast, sides of the neck, and upper part of the abdomen pure
white ; lower part of the abdomen and flanks bronzy green ; bill black ; feet brownish black.
In the female all the upper surface and flanks are dull bronzy green; throat and centre of the abdomen
buffy white; two centre tail-feathers bronzy olive-green, the next on each side white, edged with green on
the base of the inner web, beyond which both webs are crossed obliquely with black ; the remaining feathers
white, crossed about the centre by a broad oblique band of black; wings purplish brown; bill and feet as
in the male.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the size of life. The plant is the Dipladenia crassinoda.
SO LO RY NO ON ONO ee
HELIOTHRIX AURITUS.
Cayenne Fairy.
Trochilus auritus, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 493.—Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. i. p. 311.
—Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. vii. p. 368.—Ib. Ency. Méth. Orn., part ii.
p. 567.—Swains. Birds of Brazil, pl. 29.
Mellisuga Cayennensis major, Briss. Orn., tom. ui. p. 722. pl. xxxvii. fig. 3.—Id. 8vo, tom. ti. p. 38.
Oiseau mouche a oreilles, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 32.—Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. 1. p. 57.
pls. 25, 26.
Violet-eared Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. u. p. 767.—Shaw, Nat. Misc., vol. xiii.
pl. 977.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 341.
Ornismya aurita, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 63. pls. 10, 11.
Heliothrix auritus, Boie, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 115, Heliothrix, sp. 1.—
Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Heliothrix, sp. 1.
Helhothriz aurita, Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit. p. 18.
Ornismya mgrotis, Less. Ind. Gen. et Syn. des Ois. du Gen. Trochilus, p. 20. esp. 48.
Heliothrix nigrotis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 115, Heliothrix, sp. 2.—Bonap.
Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Heliothria, sp. 2.
As this has been the longest known species of the present genus, I place it at the head of a group, for which
the trivial name of Fairy will be very appropriate, since the elegance of their form and the peculiar chaste-
ness of their colouring readily recall to memory the ideas of grace and beauty connected with those
imaginary beings. The native habitat of the present species is the countries of Guiana and Cayenne, and
the forests near the mouths of the Amazon. I have never seen examples from the southern portion of Brazil,
where its place appears to be supplied by a nearly allied species, the H. auriculatus : both the H. auritus and
its near ally appear to be subject to much diversity in the length of their tails, and in the colouring of the
sides of their necks, a diversity which I candidly confess much perplexes me, as I have never been able to
satisfy myself as to what it is due: I have always regarded the specimens with the more lengthened tail and
black ear-coverts as females; and if such be the case, of which I have little doubt, the young males will
present for the first two years similar characteristics ; my reason for believing this is, that specimens
having metallic whiskers and the blue patch on the sides of the neck, have in some instances lengthened
tails, in others comparatively short ones; it would therefore seem that as the birds advance in age, the organ
becomes more abbreviated and of a rounder form: there is also another character which cannot fail to have
been noticed by every Trochilidist, namely, that the breast in some examples of these females or young
males is pure white, while in others the same part is dotted over with obscure markings of pale bronzy
brown ; an elucidation of these difficulties is a point to which I would direct the attention of those who may
be favourably situated for observing any member of this genus in its native wilds. Some persons are
inclined to believe that a seasonal change takes place in many of the Trochilide, while others believe the
contrary to be the case. In the present instance I think I have had evidence that the metallic whisker
and blue mark on the side of the neck is cast off after the breeding season, and that the black line
commencing at the gape and running down the sides of the neck then becomes very conspicuous.
M. Lesson has regarded the bird in this state as a distinct species, and given to it the appellation of
nigrotis: if the opinion that the birds are subject to a seasonal change should prove to be erroneous, then I
doubt not that the black-eared birds with the white breasts and long tails will prove to be adult females,
and those with the spotted breasts will be birds in the first year of their existence.
The male has the crown of the head, all the upper surface, the lengthened upper tail- and the upper and
under wing-coverts beautiful glossy golden green, which is brightest on the forehead; wings purplish
black; four middle tail-feathers bluish black ; three lateral feathers snow-white ; lores, lme under the eye
and ear-coverts black, terminating in a small tuft of violet-blue feathers; below the black line a narrow
moustache proceeding from the gape of rich luminous green; all the under surface snow-white ; bill black ;
feet flesh-colour.
The female differs in having the upper surface of a more bronzy hue, in wanting the luminous forehead,
the green moustache and the blue ear-tufts ; the absence of the two latter causing the black streak down
the neck to show conspicuously, and in having an oblique band of bluish black across the white lateral tail-
feathers near their base.
The young bird resembles the female, except that each of the feathers of the throat and breast has a pale
bronzy brown spot at the tip.
The figures are of the size of life.
ae
%
6 as
BOR)
IS
5
: ) o Fe ey ts
« 0LZ™O
Ci
ae 54m
WA
hy
Ey,
Bs
tm
fx i.
-frer
Nae! ; En
waded R Walter Tap
HELIOTHRIX AURICULATUS.
Brazilian Fairy.
Trochilus auriculatus, Licht. Erman Verz. von Thier., p. 5. t. 2. figs. 1, 2.
Ornismya Pouchetti, Less. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 72.
Heliothria auriculatus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 115, Heliothrix, sp. 3.
Heliothrix poucheti, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Hehothria, sp. 3.
Dr. Licurensrern’s name of auriculatus having been given to this species prior to that of Poucheti bestowed
upon it by M. Lesson, is necessarily the one adopted, although the species is more generally known by the
latter; had this not been the case, I should have felt great pleasure in retaining the term selected by
M. Lesson to do honour to the amiable and accomplished Dr. Pouchet of Rouen.
It will be seen that in my account of the H. auritus I have stated that it is a native of Guiana and Cayenne ;
this species, on the other hand, inhabits Southern Brazil, and I do not believe that either species encroaches
upon the other’s territories, but that each is confined to their respective countries.
The A. auriculatus is a larger and more robust species than H. auritus or HT. Barroti, from both of
which it may be readily distinguished by the metallic green whisker occupying the throat as well as the sides
of the neck; another remarkable feature is observable in some specimens, namely, that the tail is both
shorter and more rounded than in others; the bird in fact appearing to be subject to the same diversity in
this and other respects that I have mentioned in my account of AZ. auritus.
Mr. Reeves informs me that it inhabits Rio de Janeiro and Minas Geraes, but is nowhere very common ;
that it is not met with in the immediate vicinity of Rio, but that it arrives in Novo Friburgo in July, and
remains until September: during its stay it evinces a decided preference for the flowers of the orange trees,
which doubtless afford it an abundant supply of some peculiar and congenial kind of insect food: Mr. Reeves
adds, that, as we might infer from its general contour, its flight is both powerful and rapid.
A nest sent to me by Mr. Reeves as belonging to this species, is labelled ‘* Colibri ventre blanc ; local
name Oreus azul; cry 200k-z00k-zook.”
The nest is of a somewhat lengthened form, attached to the side of a small twig, composed of fine dark
brown vegetable fibres, coated externally with small flakes of pale olive and buff-coloured bark. Another
example is of a still longer form, attached on one side to a slender vertical twig, and composed of some
cottony material held together externally by apparently cobwebs and patches of grey lichen.
The male has the head, all the upper surface, lengthened upper tail-coverts, upper and under wing-coverts
rich golden green, very brilliant on the head; wings purplish black ; four central tail-feathers bluish black,
lateral tail-feathers snowy white ; patch below and behind the eye black, terminating in a small tuft of violet-
blue feathers; down each side of the neck a broad stripe of rich lumimous green, the two stripes uniting on
and occupying the chin; centre of the throat and all the under surface pure white; bill black ; feet flesh-
colour.
The female is similar in her general colouring, but is destitute of the brilliancy on the head, of the blue
ear-tufts and the green neck stripes, the absence of which causes the black below the eye and on the ear-
coverts to show very conspicuously: the lateral tail-feathers crossed near their base by a purplish band.
The young resemble the female, but have a spot of pale bronzy brown at the tip of each feather of the
throat and breast.
The figures are of the natural size; the flower of the bulbous plant figured with them was sent to me by
Mr. Reeves of Rio de Janeiro, and is introduced as offering a pleasing contrast to the birds rather than as
one to which they are particularly attached.
ey Ne 8 Oe SO SA OD SP CN BY eNO IS 0 Oe 9 Se IS A TE
Hl
ry ae Tee Cc)
io 2 5
Ko" Ajo" ee S
Cu
Hutirnivttel 6 Waltery Fp
HELIOTHRIX PHAINOLAMA, Gowda.
Green-throated Fairy.
Heliothria phatnolema, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., part xxin. p. 87.
Turis is one of the most beautiful, and certainly the rarest species of the genus Heliothriz, a group
distinguished by the wedge-shaped form of their bill, their lengthened wings, small feet, and delicate style
of colouring. Its nearest ally is the 1. quriculatus, from which, however, it is distinguished by the whole
of the throat being of a resplendent metallic green. The localities inhabited by the two birds are widely
different, the HZ. auriculatus bemg found in Southern Brazil, while the H. phainolema frequents the distant
country of the Upper Rio Negro, the district in which the splendid Topaza pyra is also found, together with
many other fine species of which at present but little is known, owing to the difficulty of access to this ferra
incognita.
The male has the head, upper surface, upper tail-coverts, upper and under wing-coverts rich golden
green, very brilliant on the head; wings purplish black; four central tail-feathers bluish black ; lateral tail-
feathers snowy white; below and behind the eye a lengthened mark of black, terminating in a violet-blue
tuft; chin, throat, and sides of the neck rich luminous green; breast and under surface pure white; bill
black ; feet flesh-colour.
The female is very similar, but wants the blue ear-tufts and green neck-stripe, the absence of which
causes the black ear-coverts to show very conspicuously; a purplish band crosses the lateral tail-feathers
near their base.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is a variety of the Tvdlandsia bulbosa.
My Gt CALEY D «LO P-.O) M0 £23 9 Se fo) RS (NCR OP ONY NE SS I NR Hcg NN 3 ST ON Te aT EE NO TES ET US ee a
0. & Waltore Llp
LALO
© MOR RIAN Ow NG ey We (ec) A) Geese
HELIOTHRIX PURPUREICEPS, Goud.
Purple-crowned Fairy.
Heliothrix purpureiceps, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxi. p. 87.
Ir will be seen, on reference to my description of Heliothrix Barrotz, that I have stated Columbia and
Carthagena to be the habitats of that species ; on the other hand, the present bird, so far as is yet known,
although inhabiting the same great range of mountains, is found further to the southward. The male
specimen from which I took my description was procured at Popayan, while females, which I doubt not are
referable to this species, were obtained by Professor Jameson in the neighbourhood of Quito. That the
present bird is a species of the greatest rarity all ornithologists will admit, since but few, very few examples
have as yet reached Europe. Of course nothing whatever is known respecting its habits and economy. In
these particulars, however, we may with certainty aver, that no remarkable difference from those of its near
allies will be found to exist. On comparing specimens of H. purpureiceps and H. Barroti, the following
differences are observable: the bill and tail are much shorter, and the purplish blue, reaching as it does
to the nape, is much more extensive in the former than in the latter.
The male has the forehead, crown, and nape beautiful purplish blue ; upper surface, upper tail-coverts,
and upper and under wing-coverts beautiful golden green; mark below the eye and ear-coverts black, ter-
minating in a small blue tuft; below the black a streak of rich luminous green ; wings purplish black ;
central tail-feathers bluish black; lateral tail-feathers, chin, throat, and under surface pure white ; bill
black ; feet flesh-colour.
The female has the crown bronzy green instead of violet-blue ; is destitute of the blue ear-coverts and
green moustache ; has the throat-feathers lightly speckled with brown, and the lateral tail-feathers banded
near the base with purplish black.
On reference to my account of H. Barroti, it will be seen that I have stated that the females of that
species were found at Quito ; but I now believe that the females there obtamed have reference to the present
bird, and not to HZ. Barrote.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Vrresia glaucophylla.
CN CY ea NU Se NF ae RES CUS SS
_
‘
Pi
!
4
HELIOTHRIX BARROTI.
Columbian Fairy.
Trochilus Barroti, Boure. Rey. Zool. 1843, p. 72.—Ib. Ann. Sci. Phys. &e. de Lyon, 1843,
p. 48. t. 4.
Heliothrix Barroti, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. 1. p. 115, Heliothria, sp. 4.
________ barroti, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Heliothrix, sp. 4.
i al
LI NY A EO
ie
|) SS
5
Pi
<
1
Tuis beautiful species is very rarely met with either in the collections of this country or in those of the
Continent, a circumstance which is doubtless due to its natural habitat bemg seldom visited by travellers.
M. Bourcier, its original describer, states that it inhabits Columbia and Carthagena, and I have myself
received a male from M. Warszewicz, procured in Veragua, and a female from Professor Jameson of Quito,
who shot it on the western side of Pichincha, at an elevation of 6000 feet ; it is clear, therefore, that how-
ever scarce the bird may be in our collections at this time, it will not long remain so, since it cannot fail to
be procured in abundance in some portion of its widely-extended range. It is evidently a tenant of the
moderately high and temperate regions, where it is a representative of, and doubtless performs the same
part in the economy of nature that the HZ. auritus and H. auriculatus do in the regions inhabited by them ;
it is perhaps even more beautiful than either of them, for independently of its possessing all the colours
they display, the crown is capped with beautiful blue, a feature which renders it conspicuous and readily
recognizable ; in size, in its configuration, and in the whiteness of its throat it is more nearly allied to
H. auritus than to H. auriculatus.
The male has the forehead beautiful violet-blue; nape, upper surface, upper tail-coverts and upper and
under wing-coverts beautiful golden green; mark below the eye and the ear-coverts black, terminating ina
small tuft of blue; below the black line a streak of rich luminous green ; wings purplish black; central
tail-feathers bluish black; lateral tail-feathers, chin, throat and under surface pure white; bill black; feet
flesh-colour.
The female is similar in colour, but has the crown bronzy green instead of violet-blue ; is destitute of the
blue ear-coverts and green moustache ; has the throat-feathers slightly speckled with brown, and the lateral
tail-feathers banded near their base with purplish black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life.
TE ASNT NO OME NO I NO OE NEY ENO ON ae aS ORE ES CIS SR BS). = Wd, AE oe pr
an
A
—~
Liltervantel eWielton [rep
Pe Ne
ier A AR ST (NOE EO
SCHISTES GEOFFROYI.
Geoffroy’s Wedge-Bill.
Trochilus Geoffroyi, Boure. et Muls. in Ann. de la Soc. Roy. d’Agric. de Lyon, tom. vi. 18438,
p- 37. pl. 3.
Petasophora? Geoffroyi, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. p. 9.
Polytmus Geoffroyi, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. dl.
Colibri geoffroyi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 7.
Tuts bird was first made known to us by MM. Bourcier and Mulsant in the Annals of the Royal Society of
Agriculture, &c. of Lyons for 1843; fortunately for science it is one of the few species that has not received
a second specific name, and hence all confusion as to its identity is obviated. In its singular wedge-shaped
bill combined with the cuneate form of its tail, it differs from the members of all the previously established
genera of this family; I have therefore deemed it advisable to make this bird the type of a new genus, and
have selected the term of Schistes as indicative of one of the features by which it and its near ally, the S. albo-
gularis, are distinguished. I feel certain that this peculiarity in the form of the bill is adapted for some
especial purpose, and it would be highly interesting to know from what tribe of plants the bird gathers its
insect food, of which, as well as all other details connected with its habits and economy, we are entirely
ignorant ; all that we know at present being that it is a native of the Columbian Andes, and that specimens
are frequently sent to France in collections from Santa Fé de Bogota. I am not aware that there is any
distinctive sexual colouring in the plumage of this bird, a great similarity existing in all the specimens I
have examined.
Across the forehead a faint line of luminous green; crown of the head, upper surface and wing-coverts
bronzy green, deepening into rich bronze on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; wings purplish brown ; tail
green, crossed near the tip by a broad chalybeate band, beyond which the feathers are of a paler green than
at the base, and the four outer feathers on each side are fringed with white at the tip; throat luminous
green; behind the eye a small tuft of white; ear-coverts dark brown; on each side the breast a tuft of
lilac-blue; feathers margined posteriorly with green; under surface glossy green; tuft behind the thigh
white; vent feathers grey at the base and tip, olive-green in the middle ; bill and feet blackish brown.
The figures are of the size of life.
WOR RPI FO MORI ENO Oe a ere SOIT ES VIE SR BOT 2 Ne
lter & Cohan, /mp
Ka
SCHISTES PERSONATUS, Gowda.
Masked Wedge-bill.
Schistes geoffroyi, Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxviii. p. 70.
——— personatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxvii. p. 311.
My own collection contains three specimens of this fine bird, all of which are from Ecuador; one of them
was shot at Pallatanga by Mr. Fraser.
In point of affinity the Schistes personatus is nearly allied to the S. Geoffroy: ; but as that species is from a
different country (New Granada), and never has any glittering colour on the forehead, the two birds cannot
be considered as identical. Besides the differences alluded to, the S. personatus has a longer bill and is of
larger size, which, together with the possession of a glittering forehead, renders it a much finer bird. The
only note that I can find respecting this species is the following brief one from the pen of Mr. Fraser in
the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London’ for 1860.
‘“‘T should have taken this to be the male of S. albogularis but for the colour of the feet and shape of the
tail. Bill and feet black. Stomach contained insects.”
Forehead, face, and throat glittering brilliant green, in the form of a mask, posterior to which is a patch
of black, below this spring two lengthened tufts of violet-blue feathers, succeeded by a crescentic mark
of white; crown of the head, back of the neck, back and shoulders golden-green; tail green, each feather
crossed near its apex by a broad band of steel or bluish black; abdomen green; wings purplish brown ;
bill black.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Nematanthus ionema.
SS NUE ON | EY NOW SE OY NO
SOM ORI ZNO OW N= BS (2 NC OO OS eS
PP SABA NPR
wrarrt y
A. JAN
ay
A
7
Gould
/
Walton, inp
Udllinandd é
-&
= Be ST fa 8
SCHISTES ALBOGULARIS, Gow.
White-throated Wedge-Bill.
mC
op
Schistes albogularis, Gould in Jard. Cont. to Orn., 1851, p. 140.
For the two specimens of this bird in my own collection, and which are the only examples I have seen, I
am indebted to Professor Jameson of Quito, who collected them on the western side of Pichincha, at an
elevation of 6000 feet above the level of the sea. In its form it is precisely similar to the preceding species,
the Schistes Geoffroy, at the same time it exhibits several well-marked specific differences: thus it is of a
much smaller size ; has a longer bill; the entire upper surface of a nearly uniform grass-green, instead of
bronzy green; an indication of a distinct bar of metallic green across the forehead; the throat and lower
part of the neck pure white, instead of luminous green ; and the lilac-blue ear-tufts so small as to be almost
obsolete.
The two specimens I have are precisely alike, and in all probability no sexual difference will be found to
exist in the colour and marking of the plumage.
Across the forehead an obscure band of luminous green; crown of the head, upper surface and abdomen
grass-green ; wings purplish brown; tail green, crossed near the tip by a chalybeate band ; four lateral
feathers narrowly fringed with white at the tip, and the middle tail-feathers washed with bronze; throat,
chest, a small patch behind each eye, and a small tuft behind the insertion of the thigh white; ear-coverts
brown; a small tuft of lilac-blue feathers on each side the neck ; bill and feet brown.
The figures are the size of life.
— = = 7 KS (Oe = EY Fe 0 NY NI
SE Me NY OE ORY | CI IN OW SN BS NCO OT Ne z = ™
iS
iS
OE Bra B=
ce ery Ae SN ee
AUGASTES SCUTATUS.
Natterers Vizor-bearer.
Trochilus superbus, Vieill. Eney. Méth. Orn., part 1. p. 561.
—_— scutatus, Natterer—Temm. Pl. Col. 299. fig. 3—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-birds,
vol. i. p. 110. pl. 14.
Ornismya Nattererii, Less. Ois. Mouch., p. 75. pl. 16.
Hylocharis superba, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, Hylocharis, sp. 29.
Axruouen Vieillot’s appellation of superdus is undoubtedly the first that was applied to this species, I have
been induced to give the preference to the far more appropriate one of scu¢atus, given to it by M. Natterer.
§ } Ppproy § N
I am aware that in so doing I am departing from the rule of priority, but I conceive that this departure is
g I 8 I ) ]
far preferable to continuing the use of a term which is equally descriptive of many other members of the
I 8 ¥ | yy
family, and which would be more applicable to the far lovelier Aueastes Lumachellus than to the present
i ] S
species.
The Augastes scutatus is a native of the interior of Brazil, where the fine specimens contained in the
Collection of the Jardin du Roi at Paris were obtained by that justly celebrated botanist M. Auguste de
y J g
Saint-Hilaire ; there also were procured the specimens described by the late Mr. John Natterer of Vienna,
5 I I )
and figured by M. Temminck in his ‘“‘ Planches Coloriées ” above-quoted.
$ Mi
No information as to its habits and economy has yet been obtained.
The male has the face and throat clothed with small scale-like feathers of the richest and most luminous
emerald green, the feathers lengthened into a pendent point on the chest; band across the crown and ear-
coverts deep velvety black ; immediately behind the eye a small oblong spot of white ; on each side of the
neck a lengthened tuft of feathers of a rich indigo blue, separated from the equally rich indigo blue of the
abdomen by two crescent-shaped marks of deep buff, one on either side of the chest; all the upper surface,
upper and under wing-coverts rich bronzy green; wings purplish brown; vent white; under tail-coverts
white spotted with shining green ; tail shining metallic green; tarsi clothed with brown feathers ; bill black ;
feet brown.
Total length, 4 inches; bill, $; wing, 2+; tail, 12; tarsus, 3%.
In general colouring the female is very similar to the male, but the face is much less brilliant ; the blue
tufts on the sides of the neck are much less developed; the crescent-shaped marks on the chest are white
instead of buff; the abdomen is green, with only a tinge of the rich blue; the under tail-coverts are pure
white; and the outer tail-feather on each side is tipped with white.
Total length, 32 inches; bill, $; wing, 235 tail, 13; tarsus, 5%.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. The beautiful Orchideous plant is the
Myanthus cernuus.
pa = 7 —= o (OM Ne a ON OO OO a OR RD
ha. ee (o_Jh ©) Wei o. a (eo) A~G\ ec oO aI = WS) BEY (NE OE OY NON OY 7
ng wenn
Zz
A BOL:
Ae
«4
PO
~
a
os
we)
Ae
AUGASTES LUMACHELLUS.
Hooded Vizor-bearer.
Ornismya lumachella, Less. Rey. Zool. 1838, p. 315.
Trochilus Lumachellus, Boure. Rey. Zool. 1846, p. 313.
Hylocharis Lumachellus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, Hylocharis, sp. 30.
Or all the species of Humming-birds hitherto discovered in Brazil, there is perhaps no one more beautiful
in form and colour than the bird here represented ; neither is there any one among them of which so little
is known both respecting its habits and the localities it frequents. All the specimens in the collections of
this country have been obtained in the province of Bahia, and the bird is without doubt an inhabitant of the
mountainous parts of the interior to the northward and westward of Minas Geraes. In the disposition of
its colouring and markings it precisely resembles the Augastes scutatus, but is distinguishable from that
species by its larger size, by the pendant locket-like mark of crimson at the extremity of the beard, and by
the luminous metallic red colouring of the tail.
As in A. scutatus, considerable difference exists in the plumage of the sexes, which may be thus
described :-—
The male has the face and throat rich lustrous golden green, bounded below by a narrow line of bluish
green, and terminating in a few pointed feathers of a rich shining iridescent crimson-red ; head deep velvety
black, which colouring extends over the sides of the neck, and is continued in a narrow line behind the
luminous colouring of the throat; plumage of the body, both above and beneath, shining bronzy green ;
on either side of the chest a crescent-shaped mark of white; wings purplish brown; tail golden bronzy
red, except the apical three-fourths of the two central feathers which are pure bronze, and the outer
margins of the two next feathers on each side which are washed with green; under surface of the tail rich
deep luminous bronzy crimson; across the vent an irregular line of white ; bill black.
Total length, 41 inches; bill, 2; wing, 22; tail, 14; tarsus, +.
The female has the upper and under surface of a more bronzy hue; the head green instead of velvety
black ; the ear-coverts dull blackish brown; the green of the throat less lustrous, not extending to the
forehead; the greenish blue feathers at its base more apparent, and the locket-like mark less conspicuous ;
the upper surface of the tail of a uniform bronzy copper hue, and the under surface similar to, but less
brilliant than, that of the male.
Total length, 44 inches; bill, 2; wing, 2+; tail, 135 tarsus, +.
The young birds of the year have the upper surface bronzy green; the throat white, each feather tipped
with shining green; only a trace of the locket-like mark so conspicuous in the adult; the under surface
brown, glossed with bronze; the upper surface of the tail bronzy copper, except the two middle tail-feathers,
which assume a crimson hue, and are narrowly edged with purple; and the under surface of the tail similar
in colour, but less brilliant than in the adult.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size.
OW OC RN OW OE BI ANU OM ROK IT NO NS SOM SE CNTR ON OS
y
»
OO VAY NM
PE
UO) WOMW iS
PETASOPHORA SERRIROSTRIS.
Brazilian Violet-Ear.
Trochilus serrirostris, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., 2nd edit. tom. vii. p. 359.—Ib. Ency.
Méth. Orn., Part ii. p. 561.—Ib. Ois. dor., tom. iii. pl. i. med.
——___ janthinotus, Natt.
——.—— petasophorus, Pris Max. von Wied, Reise nach Bras., tom. ii. p- 191.—Ib. Beitr. iv.
p: 76.—Temm. Pl. Col. 203. fig. 3.—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. i.
p. 120. pl. 13, male; vol. iz. p- 81. pl. 15, female.
Ornsmya petasophora, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p- 37. pl. 1.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p- 284.
—Ib. Man. d’Orn., tom. ii. Dac:
Grypus? Vieilloti, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 256.
Colibri crispus, Spix, Av. Sp. Nov. Bras., tom. i. JO> tO). ih, Ibrox, tie, Il.
Petasophora serrirostris, Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit. p- 17.—Gould in Proce. of Zool.
SOes alzali ivan: 8.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Petasophora, sp. I.
Polytmus serrirostris, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 24.
Petasophora Gouldi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p- 69, Petasophora, sp. 2?
Tur Petasophora serrirostris is, 1 believe, the sole representative of the form in Brazil, to which country
it appears to be strictly confined, but where it seems to be very general from the Amazon to Rio de
Janeiro; in the southern districts, however, it is only a summer visitant, Mr. Reeves informing me that it
arrives in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Geraes, San Paulo and Bahia in July, and departs again in September ;
during its short sojourn it is very common, and evinces a special fondness for the orange flowers. — Its cry,
which is frequently uttered while feeding, is very loud, and resembles the syllables strep-strep.
The nest, which is rarely met with, is placed in various situations, but very commonly among Cacti; one
sent to me by Mr. Reeves is placed in the fork of a small branch, and is composed of some cottony material
intermingled with a substance like thistle-down, laced together with cobwebs, vegetable fibres, the husks of
seeds, &c.; it is of a round, cup-shaped form, and contains the usual two white eggs, about half an inch
long by nearly three-eighths of an inch in breadth.
I have remarked that many of the specimens from Bahia are smaller than those from Rio, and very
frequently small individuals arrive less brilliantly coloured, and with a considerable amount of white on their
outer tail-feathers. I believe some of the French Trochilidists have considered these smaller birds to be a
distinct species; I am not, however, disposed to assent to this opinion until I have had opportunities of
more closely investigating the subject; indeed I have some doubts of its propriety, from the circumstance
of a similar difference of size being observable in several other species; my own opinion has hitherto been
that these small specimens are females of the first year, and this I still think likely.
Mr. Reeves states that fully adult females are externally undistinguishable from the males, a fact he had
ascertained by removing eggs from the ovaria of specimens which he had considered to be males.
The snow-white under tail-coverts is a feature by which the P. serrirostris may be distinguished from the
whole of its congeners.
Head, upper surface, wing-coverts, flanks and abdomen dark yellowish green; ear-coverts rich violet-
blue; wings purplish brown; tail dark bluish green, crossed near the tip by a broad chalybeate band, beyond
which the tips are of a lighter bluish green; throat and upper part of the breast luminous green, presenting
a tessellated appearance, occasioned by the reflexions from the webs throwing a darker hue on the centre
of each feather, and producing a sparkling effect; across the breast a gorget of shining bluish green ; vent
and under tail-coverts pure white ; bill black; feet blackish brown.
In the immature birds the colouring is similar, but much less brilliant, and the markings not well defined,
besides which a greyish white tint pervades the under surface. In the smaller birds, which I have considered
to be young females, the upper surface is more green, the mark on the throat smaller and less brilliant, the
tail more blue, the chalybeate band on which is less apparent, and all the feathers, especially the outer one
on each side, slightly tipped with white, and the lower part of the abdomen, as well as the vent and under
tail-coverts, are white.
The figures are of the natural size; the Cactus is a Brazilian species, with the proper name of which I am
unacquainted.
fw Woy 2 ze
v
“Hj
aS
(SIN
i
;
4
~— > =
7
(j
ai
mt
y
(
E ‘
in =.
| me
| &
Py
|
:, 7 2
e
PETASOPHORA ANAIS.
Columbian Violet-Ear.
Ramphodon Anas, Less. Hist. Nat. des Troch., p. 146. pl. 55.
Petasophora Anas, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. p. 8.
Polytmus Anais, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. le
Colibri Anais, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 3.
Trochilus thalassinus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. 11. p. 47.
Trochilus Anais, Jard. ib. p. 1.
Great confusion exists with respect to the synonymy of the birds to which the term das has been
applied, and which is chiefly, if not solely, attributable to the carelessness of M. Lesson, who, not per-
ceiving their specific differences, has published at least three species of this genus under that name,—has
described another bird of a totally different form in the “Revue Zoologique ” for 1838 and 1839 under the
same appellation,—and has moreover added considerably to the confusion by giving incorrect habitats to
the birds his figures are intended to represent; this confusion I have endeavoured to unravel, by assigning
the various synonyms to the birds to which they appear respectively to belong; and by retainmg the term
Anais as the specific distinctive for the one so commonly sent as such in collections from Santa Fe de
Bogota, and which will be more readily recognized by a reference to the accompanying Plate than by the
most accurate description.
This species, which appears to be strictly confined to the mountainous districts of Columbia, is especially
abundant in the neighbourhood of Bogota, whence its range extends northwards to the Caraccas and south-
wards to the confines of Peru; it neither descends to the hot plains below nor upwards to the bleak
mountain sierras, but dwells in the luxuriant and temperate regions lying between these extremes, and
where it is so numerous that it is more commonly met with than any other species. I have never seen an
example from the Mexican side of the Isthmus of Panama, consequently the habitat of Mexico assigned to
it by M. Lesson would seem to be incorrect. Little or nothing has been recorded of its habits, and we only
know that it is very pugnacious and drives every other species from its feeding-ground. It will be seen that
the nestling birds, which are drawn from specimens in my collection, assume much of the fine colouring of
the adults before they have left the nest ; the blue colouring of the ear-coverts, the chin and the abdomen,
and the verditer hue of the tail, being nearly as rich as in the adults. In this early stage of their existence,
however, there is no trace of the rich chequered metallic green plumage of the breast; that part being
clothed with a velvety blackish green hue, which is not exchanged for the gayer colouring until the bird has
attained a size nearly equal to that of the adult, probably not until the spring moult of the followmg year.
Much difference exists in the size of the sexes, the females being nearly a third less than the males, but in
colour they are precisely alike.
Head, all the upper surface, including the wing-coverts and the flanks, rich shining green; wings purplish
brown; tail deep bluish green, crossed near the tip with a broad chalybeate band; the two central feathers
washed with bronze, and the tips of all shining green ; chin, line under the eye, ear-coverts and centre of
the abdomen rich shining purplish blue; fore part of the neck and breast luminous green, with a streak of
a darker hue down the centre of each feather, giving the whole a sparkling chequered appearance ; under
tail-coverts grey, washed on the centre with green ; bill black ; feet blackish brown.
In immature birds the upper surface is bronzy green, and the luminous green of the throat is at first
entirely wanting, but is afterwards gradually assumed as the bird approaches to maturity; in other respects
the plumage is similar to that of the adult.
The figures represent a male, a female, two young birds and a nest, all of the natural size. The beautiful
plant is the Cantua pyrifola.
(ORNL RY NO OW OT NU OW OKI NY aNd aN i OW NR BPI CN se a a AT (OW
i
H
S
S
S
S
—
: J
A :
Ly
ay
: r
d :
i)
§
‘¢
sy ;
» :
ri
} ; 3
\
£ J
7 a
N
‘
yo w-S
3
aN
we
PETASOPHORA I[OLATA.
Bolivian Violet-Ear.
Petasophora iolata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. p. 9.
Polytmus iolatus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp.
Colibri jolata, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 4.
So
vw
@
Auruoucu the colouring of this species is precisely similar to that of P. Anais, I have always regarded it
as distinct, and in confirmation of this view, I may state that it is of much larger size, that it has a longer
and more curved form of bill, and that it moreover inhabits a different country. It is true that the two
species inosculate in Peru, but the true habitat and breeding place of the present bird is Bolivia, whence it
extends southward to the confines of Chili and eastward to Chuquesaca, from which latter district I have
received numerous examples both of the bird and its nest. Mr. Bonelli informs me that it arrives there
in September and October, and is then very common in the valleys among the fields of maize; after breeding
and rearing its young, it migrates to the more congenial country of Peru, and there remains during the
months of winter.
In the southern countries above mentioned the P. Jolata forms a beautiful representative of the P. Anais,
of the comparatively northern provinces of Columbia and the Caraccas. Should it be considered that I
have drawn too nice a distinction in describing this bird as distinct, it must be admitted, that it is a very
well marked race, and well worthy of being figured.
The sexes exhibit the same difference of size, and the same similarity of colouring, that is observable in
P. Anais ; like that species, too, it is said to be of a most pugnacious disposition.
Head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts and flanks rich shining green, glossed in some specimens with
gold; wings purplish brown ; tail deep bluish green, crossed near the tip with a broad chalybeate band, the
two central feathers tinged with golden, and the tips of all shining green; chin, Ime under the eye, ear-
coverts and centre of the abdomen, rich shining purplish blue; throat and breast luminous green, presenting
a tessellated appearance, occasioned by the reflection from the webs throwing a darker hue on the centre of
each feather ; under tail-coverts grey, washed on the centre with green ; bill black ; feet blackish brown.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. The plant is the Vriesia glaucophylla.
oO) eine fe) By ey. o(/\)ho (0) A-O) & “ela a! et Qt OLE =O PTC WOM ORS By SOWA
aN
x
Gg
ee ee
Rot Coat er
77 ee
PETASOPHORA CORUSCANS, Goud.
Chequered Violet-EKar.
Trochilus (Petasophora) coruscans, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., Part xiv. pp. 44, 90.
Petasophora coruscans, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. Dao
Polytmus coruscans, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 29.
Colibri coruscans, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 5.
Or this beautiful bird a single example only is contained in my collection; I obtained it of Mr. Leadbeater,
who, I regret to say, could give me no information whatever respecting it. In the rich golden brown
colouring of the tessellated feathers, and in the deep buff colour of the under tail-coverts, it offers an
alliance to P. Delphine ; but it has much more blue on the breast than any other known species, and this
colour moreover extends much higher, confining the tessellated feathers to the throat, as seen in P. serri-
rostris. It must rank as one of the finest members of this well-defined genus.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface and flanks green ; band commencing on the centre of the chin
and extending under the eye and the ear-coverts purplish blue; wings purplish brown ; tail greenish blue,
crossed near the tip with a broad chalybeate band, and with the central feathers much dilated ; tessellated
feathers of the throat shining green, with bronze and dull green reflexions; breast and centre of the
abdomen blue; under tail-coverts dull green, broadly tipped with buff; bill black ; feet brown.
The figures represent this fine bird of the natural size, in two positions.
8 BO ORY CO G
‘ Se yx: i
= rN tes oa
CAD GS
A {o) OJ
Zi AlN
AS SR ~
7 7.
4
AP ay Ww
2 7
NS,
o
o »
Dee
Dw
Vy
a
—
LLG
0
We « a
=~ a 1
AG
CS) CAD
Oe
; PAS ~
JOYS OR
PETASOPHORA THALASSINA.
Mexican Violet-Ear.
YOR
at:
Trochilus thalassimus, Swains. Syn. Birds of Mexico in Phil. Mag., June 1827, p. 441.
Ornismya Anas, Less. Hist. Nat. des Col., p. 104.—Ib. Supp. des Ois. Mou., pl. 3?
Ramphodon Anas, Less. Hist. Nat. des Troch., p. 148. pl. 56°?
Polytmus thalassinus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 26.
Petasophora thalassinus, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. p. 8.
Colibri thalassinus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 2.
Trochilus Anais, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. i. p. 2 ?
IS,
A
‘
2.
*
%
5,
A,
Mexico may claim this species as strictly its own; for although it is found in the States of Guatemala,
Costa Rica and Veragua, Mexico proper would seem to be its chief habitat, and it is certainly not found to
the southward of the Isthmus of Panama. It presents a singular combination of characters in its colouring,
uniting P. cyanotus with P. Anais, but it is quite distinct from both; the blue mark on the breast at all
times distinguishing it from the former, and the almost total absence of the blue mark on the chin, and its
smaller size, from the latter. It will be seen that I have thought it likely that two of the birds figured by
Lesson, under the name of Anais, are identical with the present species, and indeed I can refer them to no
other ; at the same time his figures are by no means correct representations.
To Mr. Swainson pertains the credit of characterizing this bird as distinct from all the other species of
the family then known, he having assigned to a specimen procured at Temiscaltipec the appellation of
thalassinus in his ‘“ Synopsis of the Birds of Mexico,” published in the “ Philosophical Magazine” as long
since as June 1827.
Head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts and flanks yellowish green; a narrow line commencing on the
centre of the chin and extending under the eye and the ear-coverts purplish blue; throat and chest tessel-
lated luminous green, as in the other species; centre of the abdomen deep blue ; tail deep green, crossed |
near the tip by a broad chalybeate band ; two central feathers slightly washed with bronze; wings purplish |
brown; bill dull black; feet blackish brown.
The figures are of the natural size, on one of the beautiful Bignonias of the country it inhabits.
Mitten
ee a
PAP:
Ps
Es
ye aes
Sy Y
~ .
to
£3
PAD Tir
Le «og
S BY
PETASOPHORA CYANOTIS.
Little Violet-Ear.
Trochilus cyanotus, Boure. Rey. Zool. 1843, p. 101.—Ib. Ann. Sci. et Phys. de Lyons, tom. vi.
p- 41.
Petasophora cyanotus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. p. 8.
Polytmus cyanotus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. oe
Colibri cyanotus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 1.
Ornismya Anais, Less. Hist. Nat. des Troch., p. 151. pl. 57?
Comparep with P. Anais and P. Iolata this is a small species, and it may, moreover, be distinguished from
these, as well as all the other upland members of the genus, by the total absence of blue colouring on the
chin and abdomen; I believe the bird figured by Lesson on the 57th plate of his “ Hist. Nat. des Trochili-
dées” to be identical with the one here represented, and not, as he states it to be, the female of P. Anais.
The P. cyanotis enjoys a wide range over the Andes, extending from Ecuador throughout Columbia
northward to Veragua and Costa Rica, from all of which countries I possess examples. Mr. Dyson collected
numerous specimens in the Caraccas, and M. Warszewicz has sent others in all the collections made by him
in Peru. In all these countries it inhabits the temperate and warmer regions, wherever flowers and insect
life abound. The usual diversity of size occurs in this as in the other members of the genus, the female
being very much smaller than the male. A rich golden tint prevails in some specimens, while others
are dark glossy green. Some individuals, particularly those brought by M. De Lattre, are so much smaller
than those from Bogota and other districts, as to induce the opinion that they may be distinct ; but this is
a point which can only be determined when we have had opportunities for more accurate investigation of
the subject than are at present afforded us.
In most specimens the head, upper surface and wing-coverts, abdomen and flanks are dark bronzy green,
while others have the same parts of a nearly uniform dark shining grass-green ; line under the eye and ear-
coverts rich purplish blue; wings purplish brown ; tail dark shining green, crossed near the tip by a broad
chalybeate band and the two central feathers washed with bronze ; chin, throat and breast luminous tessel-
lated green, as in the other species, but not quite so brilliant in some examples as in others; the hue too
varies, being pure green in some and of a golden green in others; under tail-coverts buff, washed with
green in the centre 5 bill black ; feet blackish brown.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size; the plant is the Barkeria Lnndleyana.
Wii
rar: WA}
Bullman del & Katicn Jap
i
5
anne reg f
3 =
a
aA
=
‘
>)
ee
a
)
4
,
Da
|
Dy
q
L
, 7 ;
S
: ¢
ya)
| :
a
~! 4
*¥
PETASOPHORA DELPHIN &.
Brown Violet-Ear.
Ornismya Delphine, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 44.— Ib. Echo du Monde savante, 1843,
no. 31.—Ib. Ill. de Zool., tom. 11. pl. 64.
Petasophora Delphine, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part xv. p. 8.
Polytmus Delphine, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 30.
Colibri delphine, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 6.
No member of the genus Petasophora, nor indeed of the whole family of Trochilidz, enjoys a more extensive
range than this well-marked species; for it inhabits alike Trinidad, the low countries of Cayenne and
Demerara, the Caraccas, and the temperate regions of Columbia ; M. Warszewicz has also sent it to me
from the Andes of Quindios and from Peru, and it is occasionally found in collections from Santa Fe de
Bogota. Its sombre colouring, and the rufous brown hue of the lower part of the back and the upper
tail-coverts, at once distinguish it from every other member of the genus; and the only difference I have
observed between the upland and lowland specimens is that the former are of a somewhat smaller size; in
colour and markings they are alike.
Head, upper and under surface dark olive-brown; the feathers of the rump and upper tail-coverts largely
tipped with dull rufous; wings purplish brown; tail pale bronzy brown, crossed near the tip by a broad
band of dark brown; ear-coverts rich purplish blue; down each side of the face a stripe of greyish buff;
on the centre of the throat a small patch of tessellated feathers, the lower portion of which is blue and the
upper bronzy green; vent and under tail-coverts pale rufous, with darker centres ; bill and feet blackish
brown.
The figures are of the size of life.
ER ae NY (NORE OY OT oO ET LOW MOK BPI ZNY aNd aN OLY 2 OM NS ae A OW OR = Oe NOME ON
eee
————
A US Be
ero Ajo"e
) SONY,
Wa yy |
Re
“AN
“9
“Lin ~y oa
A
.w
re
74)
CNN
~
7
iy Wok Be rs “aed “CA:
Ae
x
ra
Abe
Py
NO ee
CHRYSOBRONCHUS VIRESCENS.
Golden-throated Humming-bird.
Trochilus Thaumantias, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p- 489.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 309.—
Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. vii. p. 253.
- viridescens, Linn. Syst. Nat., Ed. 6., gen. (G5 sp 2
Le Petit Colibri, Briss. Orn., tom. ii. p. 667. 2nd part.—Buff. Pl. Enl. 600. fig. 1.—Ib. Hist.
Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. P= G25 sp) LO
TL’ Oiseau-mouche a queue verte et blanche, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. i. p. 83. pl. 41.
Admirable Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 763. no. 25.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol.
p-. 318. sp. 39.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 285.
Bright-throated Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 809. no. 28.—Shaw, Gen. Zool.,
Olevia ye 21/6
Trochilus virescens, Dumont, Dict. Sci. Nat., 1818.—Licht. Cat.—Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist.
Nat., tom. xxiii. p. 428.—Prince Max, Beit. zur Naturg. von Bras., p. 107.
— chrysobronchus, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p- 287.—Ib. Steph. Cont., vol. xiv. p- 240.
—__—_— viridas, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat., tom. vii. p. 354.
Ormsmya viridis, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois.-mou., p- 178. pl. 60.—Ib. Les Troch., p. 144. pl. 54.
Trochilus chloroleucurus, Saucerotte.
Polytmus chrysobronchus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 108, Polytmus, sp. 52.
Chrysobronchus virescens, Bonap. Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Leucippus chrysobronchus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 11.
Tue adult plumage of the bird figured on the accompanying Plate is so resplendently beautiful that it defies
all the powers of art to give its faithful portraiture; I must therefore content myself with as close a repre-
sentation of it as possible. Its native country is Brazil, over which it ranges from Rio de Janciro to the
Amazon, and thence probably throughout the whole of the seaboard to the Isthmus of Panama, as I have
specimens collected on the Magdalena by M. Warszewicz. It is also found in Trinidad. The individuals
from the latter locality are, however, somewhat smaller in size and have more white on their tail-feathers
than those found in Brazil, and I have often thought these differences might be of sufficient importance to
constitute a distinct species.
The synonymy of the Chrysobronchus virescens, like that of some other members of the family, is in a sad
state of confusion; on this point I have consulted with the celebrated French Trochilidist, M. Bourcier of
Paris, and the above list is given on his authority.
The specimens sent to this country usually arriving unlabelled, we have no means of determining if there
be any marked difference in the colouring of the sexes ; so far as may be judged from an examination of a
large number of specimens, they are similar; on the other hand, the young have a very different style of
colouring, as may be seen on reference to the accompanying Plate, where a specimen is figured in a state
of change from youth to maturity. I have a young specimen in my collection, which, it is pretty certain,
was sent from Bogota; but if this be the case, the bird must be regarded as rare in that district.
All the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts golden green ; throat, chest and abdomen light luminous
golden green; wings purplish brown; tail shining green; the lateral feathers with a stripe of greyish white
along the basal portion of the outer web and tipped with greyish white ; under tail-coverts green ; vent white.
In the young the under surface is deep fawn colour, with a line of golden-green feathers down the centre
of the throat, and the white portion of the tail is very conspicuous.
The Plate represents adults and young of the natural size. The plant is the Dipladenia acuminata.
MIE me SEI NCE ON i OW A
SET (gE Be OST EN OW N= ES NO WOK BI CNV Oe (
or. SF a 4
Uys ZR
}
CHRYSOBRONCHUS VIRIDICAUDUS.
Green-tailed Humming-bird.
Trochilus viridissimus, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. i. p. 84. pl. 42.
Le Petit Colibri, Vieill. Eney. Meth. Orn., part 11. p. 557. pl. 129. fig. I.
Ornismya viridis, Less. Les Troch., p. 96. pl. 33.
Trochilus Theresia, Da Silva, Maia Minerva Brasiliensis, 1843, p. 2.
As is the case with the foregoing species, Chrysobronchus virescens, much confusion has hitherto existed with
regard to the correct specific name of this species, and it is the unravelling of the synonymy of such
species as these which is the great plague of the Monographist. Accompanying the list of synonyms which
M. Bourcier sent me as in his opinion applicable to C. wrescens were the synonyms given above as having
reference to this species, and the following note respecting it :—
« J] existe au muséum de Paris le type du viridissémus de Vieillot, qui ne laisse aucun doute a cet egard.
«
wa?
£
ae
4 A
a
SAA ONS/4p
“
i’ () @ (nT,
\ YS bold
HELI ANTHEA EOS, Gould.
Golden Star-frontlet.
Helianthea Kos, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1848, De Ele Anessa plese
Mellisuga eos, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. App. p. 5, App. to p. 118.
Helianthea eos, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p- 75, Hehanthea, sp. 5.—Ib. Rev. et Mag. de Zool
1854, p. 251. :
Hypochrysia Eos, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, Do:
Tue South American travellers Linden, Funck and Schlim will have their names handed down to posterity
quite as much for having collected the first specimens of some of the finest species of the Zrochilide, as for
their discoveries of the beautiful Orchids and other Andean groups of plants, which they have from time to
time transmitted to Europe. The lovely Humming Bird here represented is one of the many novelties
which rewarded the researches of those gentlemen during their rambles in New Grenada: it was transmitted
to me direct in 1848, when I gave it the name of Los, a specific appellation suggested by the transcendently
rich golden hue which pervades the whole of the plumage. In size and structure this fine species very
closely assimilates to the H. Bonaparti, but may be at once distinguished by the glittering golden hue of the
under surface, extending on to the chest and neck; by the deep rufous colouring of the secondaries, and
by the rufous colouring of the tail. In a letter received from Mr. Linden, that gentleman states, that
Messrs. Funck and Schlim found this bird in the Paramos de los Conejos, near Merida, at an elevation of
from 8000 to 10,000 feet ; further than this, I regret to say, nothing is known respecting it. It doubtless
represents, in the fine country above mentioned, the beautiful A. Bonaparti of Bogota.
The female differs considerably from the male, in not being adorned with half his brilliancy of colouring ;
in size and conformation, however, they differ much less than the sexes of many other species.
The male has a spot of luminous metallic green on the forehead; lores, crown of the head and occiput
velvety black ; fore part of the neck and chest lustrous golden green, blending on the chest into the rich
shining flame-colour of the abdomen; on the centre of the throat a patch of rich deep purplish blue; back,
wing- and upper tail-coverts bronzy orange ; tail cimnamon-brown, the apical half of the two middle tail-
feathers and the tips of the remainder with a bronzy lustre ; primaries chocolate-brown ; secondaries rufous,
forming a conspicuous mark on the wing ; bill black ; feet light brown.
The female is similar in colour, but her hues are much less resplendent, and she is entirely destitute of
the spot of green on the forehead and the patch of blue on the throat.
The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size. The plant is the Cantua bicolor.
SE OI NO ee ee ee ae oe eT Ne — SS aes
Bn)
ns
To 7-N
a
ce
o
GA La
Oo
5
,
nit
1-2 Walt
Halimanda & WAM
: i , c 3;
Ne ah
ES ee
HELIANTHEA LUTETIA€.
Comte de Paris.
Trochilus Lutetia, DeLatt. et Boure. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 307.
Mellisuga lutetie, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 7.
Helianthea lutetiae, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p.74, Helianthea, sp.3.—Reich. Aufz. der Col., p.9.
lutetie, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.
Tus Helianthea Lutetie may fairly rank among the finest species of its genus. In size it surpasses the
H. typica and H. Eos, from which, and indeed from every other known species, it differs in the uniform deep
grass-green of the chest and abdomen, and, with the exception of H. Hos, in the bright buff colouring of
the secondaries, forming a conspicuous mark like an epaulet near the shoulders. The native habitat of this
fine species is Ecuador, in which country it takes the place of the H. Bonaparti, H. typica, and H. Eos ot
Columbia, and the H. violifera of Peru. I believe its discovery to be due to the researches of the late
M. DeLattre, who, in conjunction with M. Bourcier, named it Lutetie in honour of the Comte de Paris as a
compliment to his illustrious father, the late Duke of Orleans, who by his patronage of the natural sciences
contributed so largely to their development. |
As is usual in this genus, the sexes differ very considerably in their colouring. The females of all the
species, however, are very similar; but the female of H. Lutetie having the buffy epaulet-like mark on the
shoulder, it is impossible to mistake the species to which it pertains.
The Helianthea Lutetie appears to be very common in the neighbourhood of Quito, as is evidenced by the
numerous examples obtained by Professor Jameson, M. Bourcier, and every collector who has visited those
regions. The specimens from which the original description was taken were procured by M. DeLattre on
the Volcano of Purace near Popayan.
I am indebted to M. Bourcier for the loan of the drawing of the interesting plant figured on the
accompanying Plate.
The male has a spot of glittering metallic green on the forehead; the sides of the head, crown, and back
of the neck velvety-black ; upper surface brownish-black glossed with green ; wing-coverts dark green ;
wings purplish-brown, with the exception of the secondaries, which are buff, forming a conspicuous mark
near the shoulder; tail dark bronzy-brown ; under surface shining deep grass-green, with a spot of rich
metallic steel-blue in the centre of the throat; bill black ; feet brown.
The female has the crown of the head and upper surface bronzy-green ; wings and tail as in the male;
chin and centre of the throat deep sandy-buff; under surface bronzy-green.
The Plate represents the sexes of the natural size.
4
1
}
H
|
ry
J
a
y
i
KS
:
{ S&
¥ i S
s 5
f
a
a7
=~
>
Fi
? cp
f LZ.
b A
bi gy
P aa]
A es
N
) pel
ry
r
i)
D S
SS
> .
s x
| \
, <
N Ss
y) S }
} ee
RS E
> =
~ Gj
Ft S !
. . . a >
TN . : ae
tN ie a Nae ag OA es é aha
i — ee
= — As A
RRA
HELIANTHEA VIOLIFERA, Gould.
Violet-throated Star-frontlet.
Trochilus (———— °) violifer, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe., part xiv. p. 87.
Melhsuga violifera, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 9.
Helianthea violifer, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 75, Helianthea, sp. 4.
violifera, Ib. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.—Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris,
Deo:
Tue first specimens I received of this new species of Helianthea were sent to me by Mr. Bridges of
Valparaiso, who collected them during his journey into the interior of Bolivia: subsequently others were
forwarded to me from the same country, and also from Peru, by M. Warszewicz; Southern Peru and
Bolivia, then, appear to be its true habitat. The locality given by Mr. Bridges is the warm region of
Sandillant New Road, Yungas of La Paz in Bolivia; that by M. Warszewicz is the Province of Chulimania
in the Cordillera of Peru, at an elevation of from 3000 to 6000 feet, where it greatly affects the flowers
of Salvia longiflora. The total absence of any fine colouring on the under surface of this bird has almost
induced me to give it a separate generic appellation ; but, after again and again carefully comparing’ it
with the other species of the form, I hesitate from so doing. It has the usual star-frontlet and blue throat-
mark, but the former character is developed in a very much less degree than in any of its congeners: it also
differs from the other Hehanthee in having an obscure band of white on the lower part of the neck. It has
a longer bill than either of them, and, moreover, is a somewhat larger bird.
The sexes differ in accordance with the figures on the accompanying Plate.
The male has the head, back of the neck, chin, ear-coverts and breast dark green, so deep, in fact, that
when viewed in front, the head appears to be black ; in the centre of the throat a patch of violet-blue ; across
the lower part of the throat a narrow band of white; back and rump golden green; abdomen, upper and
under tail-coverts light rufous; tail light rufous, the apical third of the two central, and the tips of the
remainder washed with bronzy green; wings purplish brown, with the external edge of the first primary
rufous ; bill black.
The female has the throat rufous, mottled with green, in lieu of the green and violet colouring of that
part of the male.
The figures are the size of life. The plant is the Pass:flora Medusea.
———— eee
Baht ait
“ee
Ji
ory Wao
re 4
>
Le
5
" f
>
py) i
db
ry C
i in
My
) =
Py
EA
SEAS VON ZN
ZN A ) “e Fe 1 eS C7 NO
Lo — A — Ss A
HELTANGELUS SPENCEL
Spence’s Sun Angel.
Trochilus Spencei, Boure. in Proce. of Zool. Soc., part xv. p.46.—Ib. Rey. Zool. 1847 p. 258
Mellisuga Spencei, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 41 o |
Heliangelus spencn, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 76, Heliangelus, sp. 2.—Ib. Rev. et Mage. de
Zool. 1854, p. 252. .
Diotima Spencer, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 12.
*
J he present time no species of the genus rangelus has
Up to the } - sees of the genus Heliangelus has been found to the northward of the Isthmus
of Panama ;—Central America in fact appears, wi ceptions woe ; : :
‘ : ee : appears, an few con to have an ornithology peculiarly its
own ;—the H. Spencer, however, approaches the line of demarcation more nearly than any other, inhabiting,
as it does, the extreme northern limit of the country called Columbia. My specimens are from the Sierra
Tess : iWé< ther TAY A “Nneired 9 f, Tear. « C 5 1
Nevada de pray nelc they were procured a few years since, and sent to this country by the botanical
Sete 3 a SN © 2. . . ao
travellers Messrs. Funck and Schlim. It is not only a very rare and very beautiful species, but (which is of
more importance to the ornithologist, especially one who has undertaken the office of historian of this lovely
group) exhibits characters which at once distinguish it from every other member of the genus. These
peculiar features consist in the quiet subdued colouring of the violaceous throat, the feathers of which are
less glittering or metallic than in any of the other species, in the brillant spot on the forehead being of a
silvery or glaucous green, instead of brilliant grass-green, and in the band across the breast being both
broader and of a more snowy whiteness. The colouring of the throat not admitting of my employing a
metallic agent in its representation, the figure in the accompanying Plate gives but a faint idea of the beauty
of this fine species, which can only be appreciated by an examination of actual specimens.
It gave me great pleasure when I found that M. Bourcier had named this species in honour of the father
of British entomologists, and it is very gratifying to me to have this opportunity of assisting to perpetuate
the name of a man so truly scientific and amiable as Mr. Spence.
4 . . . .
The female of H. Spence: closely assimilates to the female of H. Clarisse, but the throat-markings are
more suffused with brown.
The male has a narrow mark of luminous silvery green on the forehead; all the upper and under surface
golden green, with a tinge of brown on the head and rump; throat violaceous red, bounded below by a
gorget of white, next to which are a few luminous green feathers ; lores and sides of the neck black ; wings
purplish brown; two centre tail-feathers bronzy green ; the lateral feathers bronzy brown, tipped with
brownish grey; under tail-coverts brown, fringed with grey ; bill black ; feet brown.
The female is similar to the male, but is less brilliant, and has the throat mottled with brown and black.
The figures are of the natural size.
ee AS | CN RI Fe ee ue er
Beer Oe 2° x BSS
Ne!
“ale
rs st PE
Ts
oS
di Si
oes
oye
wt
NW
Hull mand Ja
HELIANGELUS AMETHYSTICOLLIS.
Amethystine Sun Angel.
Orthorhynchus amethysticollis, D’Orb. et LaFres. Syn. Ay p. 31.—D’Orb
Meér., tom. iv. p. 576, tom. viii. pl. 60. fig. 2.
Mellisuga amethysticollis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Melhsuga, sp. 40
Trochilus amethysticollis, Tschudi, Consp. Av., no. 207. . |
Voy. dans ?Amér.
Lampornis amethysticollis, Tschudi, Faun. Per., p- 246.
Heliangelus amethysticolhs, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 76, Heliangelus, sp. 6.—Ib. Rev. et
Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Anactoria amethysticollis, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 12.
ee NT
i
Tuis beautiful Humming Bird wes frst made known to science by M. D’Orbigny, who procured a single
example of it during his journey into Bolivia. It was subsequently found by Mr. Bridges in the same country,
and it is from that source that the specimens in my own collection were obtained; I also received a single
example from M. Warszewicz, who killed it in Northern Peru. Peru and Bolivia, then, evidently concniate
the true habitat of this species, which may be regarded as the southern representative of the well-defined
geuus to which the appellation of Hehangelus has been given. In size and in the semi-rounded form of
its tail it assimilates to H. Clarisse ; but it differs from that, as well as from every other member of the
genus, in the buff colouring of its gorget, in the central line of the abdomen being buff, and in the under
tail-coverts being of a darker hue; a marked difference from all its congeners is also presented in the
greater size of the glittering green spot on the forehead, which, instead of being confined to the front,
extends towards the crown. The female offers the usual difference in the colouring of the plumage, but
preserves the buff band across the breast so characteristic of the male.
The specimen of this bird procured by M. D’Orbigny was obtained on the eastern slope of the Cordilleras
in the country of the Yuracares near Cochabamba, at the upper limit of the woody vegetation. Its stomach
contained numerous grubs and the larvee of hemipterous insects.
The male has a large mark of luminous green on the forehead ; chin black ; throat rich luminous violet-
red or puce colour, the blue or violaceous hue prevailing on the upper and lateral margins; below this a
wide gorget of buff, succeeded by a series of green feathers, very narrow in the centre, broad on the sides,
and blending with the bronzy green of the flanks; head, upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy green; the
head, however, when viewed in front, appears black ; lores and sides of the neck velvety black, separating
the colours of the upper and under surface of the head and neck; immediately behind the eye a very
small spot of buffy white; wings chocolate-brown ; two central tail-feathers bronzy green; lateral tail-
feathers dull black, the three outermost on each side tipped with brownish grey ; abdomen mottled buff and
bronzy green; under tail-coverts greyish white ;_ bill black ; feet brown.
The female has a faint indication of the luminous green on the forehead ; head, upper surface and central
tail-feathers bronzy green; lateral tail-feathers black; throat mottled buff and black ; the buff gorget not so
decided, and the luminous green feathers below far less conspicuous than in the male.
The figures are of the natural size.
ee A | SCR ANN ro Py ea a ra
/
VOMLA
i
dl
4
ENP RADA SS
ae
.
v.
io CAS i
OF
aX
.Y.
pee
CFG CRD CE
ye —
Ps
+
& é
AW
Sys a
-
2 .
$6 CXS
wv aE Zz A
RBA AS
‘ Shas Z
> Te
se
wee
SP £
SAP
Oe g
4 a = od
oe
be
‘a
Se
Ce
LO OIG
“7B
Se
&
DIPHOGENA IRIS, Gould.
Rainbow.
“Ae.
Helianthea Iris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe. 1853, p- 61; Reported in Atheneum April 16,
1853.
———— iris, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.
4e »
iow
!
7
|
AG
;
4
}
Durine the last two years it has been my good fortune to obtain so many extraordinary species of Humming
Birds from the hitherto almost untrodden parts of Peru, that I am quite at a loss for suitable expressions
wherewith to describe their beauty, as will, I am sure, be apparent to my readers if they will take even
the most transient glance at the Plates intended to represent this and some of the other species I have
lately attempted to depict, among which no one is more brilliant than the Diphogena Iris. It is to the
indefatigable perseverance of M. Warszewicz that we are indebted for our knowledge of this new bird,
to which the name of Jris has been given, with the view of conveying some idea of the hues with which it is
decorated ; but beautiful as are the tints of the heavenly rainbow, they fall far short of the gorgeously
brilliant colours of this bird’s crest.
It will be seen that I have made the present bird the type of a new genus, to which future research in the
rich provinces of Peru will doubtless add other species. The same means of information must also show
whether the bird I have called Aurora, and another which at present I refrain from naming, are, or are not,
the young males or females of the bird here represented, or if they be two other distinct species; my belief
is that the latter will prove to be the case, but as yet I have not sufficient data to determine this point; I
need scarcely say that I shall keep the subject in view, and communicate the information I may obtain as
soon as received.
Feathers of the forehead and crown of the most resplendent brilliancy, those of the forehead green on
the sides, glossed with gold in the centre; on the crown the feathers are divided into three portions, those
on each side being rich orange-scarlet, and the centre equally rich blue ; throat, neck and chest glittermg
grass-green, with a small gorget of purplish blue in the centre of the former; back of the neck velvety
black ; wing-coverts and spurious wing bronzy brown ; wings purplish brown, the feathers nearest the body,
lower part of the back, under surface, upper and under tail-coverts, and tail, chestnut-red.
The figures are of the natural size.
OS A CE WA Ck ei roy Cok es
WG ma ED. ee. a Le ow [9 BAO) - ies {. ih Ridt
a aN c~ i ONE OE ri
2
>
L\
‘
. G
- ’
: fe
AA
pe
A LAO
. .
eC}
Saee
5 Cx
Be Se BD Be es
ree ee
DIPHLOGANA AURORA, Gould.
Bolivian Rainbow.
Diphlogena Aurora, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soe., part xxi. p. 61]
Hypochrysia Aurora, Reichenb. Autz. der Col., panos
Coeligena Warszewizn, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col., p- 23.
Coeligena Warszewiczvi, Reichenb. Troch. Enum., p. 4, pl. 690. fig. 4526
. 5° rd .
> beautiful bird to which I have give > ne r Di 7 "2. i
Tun bed ave given the name of Diphlogena Iris, and the one represented in the
accompanying plate, were both collected by M. Warszewicz; and two finer or more interesting species are
scarcely to be found among the Zrochilide. It is very unfortunate that the traveller, of whose intrepidity I
have so often had OEERNON ie speak, did not ascertain the sexes of these birds by dissection ; had this been
done, the doubt which has arisen in my mind as to whether this may be a distinct species, or merely a
female of D. Iris, would have been dispelled ; as it is, the point must remain to be decided by future research.
Since my original description was published in the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for 1853, I
have examined the collection of birds contained in the Museum at Dresden, and thereby ascertained that the
bird to which Dr. Reichenbach has given the specific name of Warszewiczit is precisely identical with my
D. Aurora. Jt isa question which name has the priority ; but I believe that mine was first given ; for I enon
that all the Humming-Birds collected by M. Warszewicz were sent direct to George Ure Skinner, Esq., and
by him at once handed over to me, and those that were new were immediately described; a few, and only
a few, were retained by M. Warszewicz, and afterwards sent to Berlin, whence some of them found their
way to Dresden.
It is now pretty certain that both these fine birds were collected in the Andes of La Paz, in Bolivia, and
not in Peru, as stated in my account of D. Jris.
The following is a copy of my description of this bird, read at the scientific meeting of the Zoological
Society, held in the evening of the 12th of April, 1853.
“The whole of the crown rich metallic green; throat and back of the neck also metallic green, but not so
lustrous as on the crown; body and tail chestnut red, as in D. Iris, but not of so deep a hue.”
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Leseanthus acutangulus.
F
| Cy a 0 Na rr ay ee
J (a
ae
Pa .
at Y oN
Ss 6
By
O
ed ea
ra
ae
ae
>.< Be 5 ;
Va vd Kh
5 CS Oe
4
a
ate
CLYTOLEMA RUBINEA.
Brazilian Ruby,
Mellisuga Brasilensis gutture rubro, Briss. Orn., tom. iii,
Oiseau mouche a rouge, Buff. Pl. Enl. 276. fig. 4,
Le Rubis Emeraude, Buff. Hist. des Ois., tom. vi. p- 31.—Vieill. Ois. dor.
Le Grand Rubis, Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. p- 60. pl. 27.
p- 720. pl. 37. fie. 4.
, tom. 1. p. 114.
Trochilus rubineus, Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. i. p- 812.—Vieill. Ency. Méth. Omn., part ii. p. 563
: . e . : +» par . p. .
Ornismya rubinea, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p- 146. pls. 44, 45, 46 ae ae
p. 278. ers - Lraite d’Orn.,
Mellisuga rubinea, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p.112, Mellisuga, sp. 22
Heliomaster rubineus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 70, Heliomaster tds chee
sp. 4.
Ruby-throated Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., tom. ii. p
. 768.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii.
pp- 340, 341.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 342.
L’oiseau-mouche brun-gris, Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. p. 61. pl. 28?
I vo not recollect that I have ever received examples of this bird from
; ; any other country than Southern
Brazil, which I am therefore led to believe is its true habitat ; it is one
! of the species most abundantly sent
to Europe in all collections transmitted from Rio de Janeiro, and one of those most commonly called into
requisition for the fabrication of the beautiful artificial feather flowers made by the nuns in ‘Th convents of
that country. That it undergoes a partial migration is shown by the remarks respecting it communicated
to me by Mr. Reeves, in which he states that it arrives in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro in May, and
retires again to the virgin forests or other unexplored parts of the country about the end of September.
For some time after its arrival it frequents the flowers of the Yuga, “Tamarinda de Serra;” in July,
August and September, it resorts to the flowers of the Gua-chimba, and lastly, procures its food from those
of the Mariana, a plant which seldom remains in bloom for more than fourteen days. It breeds during the
months of June, July and August, the nest being placed among the branches of the loftiest trees of the
forest. Thousands are killed every year for the fabrication of artificial flowers.
The circumstance of this species being so very abundant near Rio during the months above mentioned,
has enabled Mr. Reeves to ascertain with certainty that it is subject to very great variation in the colouring
of the plumage between youth and maturity, and moreover that the adult female is fully as brilliant as the
male. I consider this a very important piece of information, as we may reasonably suppose that some other
species undergo similar changes ; and it tends to confirm an opinion I have long entertained, that very old
females of other species are as brilliantly coloured as the males; I do not, however, believe that this state
must be attained before the powers of reproduction are perfected, for I have no doubt that the brown
birds so constantly sent with the males have been capable of breeding. Mr. Reeves adds, that “in the
5) ne
0 aes
s n
places much frequented by this species examples may be seen during the same month in every state of
plumage they assume while in existence; and these changes are so numerous that I have in my Collection
upwards of thirty specimens, no two of which are precisely alike.”
\
BAG *G > “A>
y
r
To give figures or minute descriptions of all these changes would not add to the value or the interest of
the present work; they will be sufficiently illustrated by the accompanying figures of the two extremes.
OTB
pie Dery
Besides being one of the commonest birds in our collections, the Clytolema rubinea is also one of the
A
most beautiful members of its lovely family, and is rendered eminently conspicuous in the group by its rich
ey
ruby-coloured throat, surrounded with equally glitterig green.
Cs)
Mr. Reeves informs me that its local name is ‘“ Papa de Fogo,” and that the old bird utters a loud cry
5
resembling the syllables Zirr-tarr-tir, the cry of the young bird being the same, but fainter and uttered
rca
more slowly.
The nest sent to me by this gentleman is of a round, cup-shaped, but shallow form, placed horizontally on
yA LA
the tri-forked extremity of a small branch, composed of fine, dark brown, glossy, hair-like materials closely
fy
or
4 he
3
~
pica i _— a tee) —A9)_ Se.
pa ere BA ROT | NUIT SS RIOD 6 ANN rs a a - cones ee) ea y
Apa
woven together, and decorated with small pieces of buff-coloured lichen, and lined with the pale buff flossy
seed crowns of Asclepiadee, within which is another lining of a pale rufous wool-like substance, upon which
the two white eggs are deposited : they are half an inch in length and three-eighths of an inch in width.
Forehead rich luminons metallic green, proceeding backwards to a point on the centre of the crown;
throat rich luminous puce-red, surrounded by a broad pectoral crescent of rich luminous metallic green ;
sides of the crown and occiput greenish bronze, passing into the golden rufous of the back, wing- and tail-
coverts; wings rich purple-brown; the bases of the secondaries rufous, showing conspicuously on their
under surface; tail rich golden brown, slightly edged with dark brown, and tipped with bronzy green ;
abdomen and flanks dull green, each feather slightly luminous at the tip; a bar of downy white feathers
across the vent ; under tail-coverts green, edged with rufous; bill black; feet fleshy brown.
In the young male or the female the head and upper surface is green; the lateral tail-feather on each side
is rufous; the three next are rufous down the central portion of their bases, with bronzy margins and
apices; and the two central ones are wholly bronze; the throat and breast are rufous, and the flanks green.
In the subsequent stages the rich gorget and the full hues of maturity are gradually assumed.
The figures are of the natural size.
=~
~W7>.
.~
ZS
a. ’ -O40.6 x
+4
o
5
Ay
Bt
t
ba
PQs,”
OD
“OS
J
TARO
ae SS
OO
Oe
‘ cy tie f Rr ee be , “oho @
= Ap A 1, AD re a mya : 6 os - G noo" eo C19 2 Ch 0s , A .
ay - < ‘ : : ayo Onto ©) Oe - t a See Ie SE eS 2% .?. 4 >
eS CK ; me — $7 oo - pK be
. =
ae Or
gr yes
. £ - *
yw. es) ~ or . e ; : yt
. }: ry ‘ ; ‘ Pe ry o77-
1 MBA KAT . = ‘ft oh ees
SN | OR I 0 AN ey rm a
CLYTOLASM A? AURESCENS, Gow.
Banded Ruby.
roch US ( am ornis aAUrescens G 1 V
l I 1 KT} 21S O p 7 t i 88
7 yp ) 5 uld in I roe. of Zool. Soc., par XIV. p. 8 .
Polytmus aurescens, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 108, Polytmus, sp. 23
a omasaurescens, Bouap. Consp. Gen. Ay, tom. {. eee ee : io =
Margarochrysis aurescens, Reich. Auf. der Chall, fo. IT —ilh, Thoelh, aun D 8
Campylopterus aurescens, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250) es
TuereE is a region in South America that has : . : :
5D E as yet been but superficially investigated, either by the per-
science, or those pioneers of discovery,
d with great primeval forests, and watered by
hundreds of the tributary streams which serve to form the great rivers of the inner sides of Columbia, Peru
> >
and Bolivia, teems with animal life: by the inner side Rete
es , é ° 7 e innef side, I mean the eastern dip of the great Andean and
ordilleran ranges, a to speak more pointedly, the sources and tributaries of the rivers Amazon, Madeira,
egro. In this vas ol “xtending Aan lencrics . :
and Negro S vast region, extending for at least six degrees of latitude on each side of the
equator, there must be numerous species which are still unknown to us; for at present we have only
skirted some of its forests, and ascended or descended, as the case may be, a few of its principal rivers
The part of America here alluded to is, if I mistake not, the native country of the beautiful bird figured on
2 < ino P 5G ye Th de .
the accompanying Plate; at least it is from thence that most of the specimens I have seen have been
r) * ‘ r1e ir ne wie eae : : 4
procured. My late friend, John Natterer of Vienna, obtained, I believe, several examples on the banks of
the Madeira; and Mr. Bates sent females or young males from the neighbourhood of Ega; I have also a
specimen sent from Ecuador by Mr. Fraser, but said to have been obtained on the Napo.
severing and forward-pressing collector, the scrutinizing man of
the devotees of religion. This country, vast in extent, covere
In point of affinity, the Clytolema aurescens is more nearly allied to the C. rubinea than to any other
species ; still it differs somewhat both in form and colouring, sufficiently, perhaps, to warrant its being
made the type of a new genus; and, if so, one has already been proposed for it, as will be seen on reference
to the synonyms, which are getting pretty numerous as to generic appellations ; I trust, however, that,
as I had the pleasure of naming the bird in the first instance, it may be allowed, after nearly twenty years,
to remain in the genus in which I have now placed it.
The male has the chin black ; the throat rich luminous gold-colour ; across the chest a broad band of deep
rufous; on the forehead a longitudinal stripe of rich shining blue ; all the upper surface, two central tail-
feathers, upper and under wing-coverts and abdomen bronzy green; wings purplish brown; lateral tail-
feathers chestnut-brown, tipped both above and beneath with a bronzy lustre; under tail-coverts deep fawn-
colour; bill black.
The female or young male of the year differs in having the chin greenish brown, and in the absence of
the longitudinal blue stripe on the crown; the outer feather of the tail chestnut, the three next chestnut
with a narrow edging of bronze along their outer margins.
This latter description probably applies to a young male ; if so, the female is unknown.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Dichorisandra leucophthalmos.
5
Ro-X)s"¢ RS Cy Ow eS : 2 OSs
oo : 7 ‘ ¢ ° wy ; 75 €
. x. . ; / I / : . ‘>: ~ ee An We S / : az : >:
| POs fs A>; @ ioe. : WY FS aN Oy 3 Aa
PAS ON | et
———EE
BOURCIERIA TORQUATA.
Collared Inea.
Ornismia torquata, Boiss. Rey. Zool. 1840, p. 6.
Mellisuga torquata, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 112, Mellisuga, sp. 12
+ Naan 9 SV. ws
era a Us le DG 5) BS » r / € . .
Bourcieria torquatus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 73, Bourcieria, sp. 2.
ae
ie Wo Bye
— torquata ap. Cons i , Mace 2 5 P
torquata, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.
A
z
t
. @
<<
ei =
fl
Tap present is one of the best-known species of ell-define ee z . . :
Pre pr e i G x a of the well-defined Andean genus of Humming Birds, to which
rnc varles Lucien Bonaparte has give BAe OT Ge OEE oan
the Prince Che : 4 ae i 1as given the appellation of Bourcieria, in order to assist in perpetu-
‘no the name a gentiemé é ar t ery naturalist, as » eA OYD (ON : : :
ating the name of ¢ = eman familiar to every naturalist, as the possessor of one of the finest collections
of the Trochilide 7” uroy . and who, by his personal researches in South America, has added largely to
our knowledge of this charming group.
Speaking in a wide sense, the high lands of the great country of Columbia is the native habitat of this fine
species. Most of the collections from Bogota and Popayan contain examples. Mr. Mark tells me that it
frequents the Paramos or upland grassy districts, and that it extracts its fuod from the blossoms of the
shrubby plants common to such localities, the wild Guava being always resorted to when in flower.
Judging from the large size of its wings and its general contour, we may conclude that, like its allies, its
powers of flight are very great.
It will be seen that the colours of the male are very decided, the white breast of the fully adult birds
offering a striking contrast to the jet-black of the surrounding plumage. The female is much smaller than
the male, and although dressed in a somewhat similar style of plumage, the markings are never so well
defined, the blue crown is absent, the white gorget is less pure, and the surrounding plumage obscure green
instead of black.
The male has the forehead, back of the neck, mantle, ear-coverts, and sides of the face, black with
va Be om the centre of the crow a nearly trianeular mark of blue: shc ilders. spuri ‘
green reiiexions; on tne centre Or tne crown a nearly triangular Mark OF Diue; Snoulders, spurious
A
e
wing, the three innermost secondaries, back and upper tail-coverts deep grass-green 5 chin and throat black,
each feather tipped with greenish blue; on the breast a broad gorget of pure white; abdomen black, with
4
e tips of the feathers; thighs black ; tarsi white; toes yellowish rose-colour ; wings
reflexions of green on t
9
-feathers dark olive-green, the remainder pure white tipped with dark olive-
i
= |
i
purplish brown ; two centre tal p
ereen, and extending down the external margin of the outer feather for three-fourths of its length ; bill
black.
The female has the head and upper surface bronzy grass-green 5 no blue on the crown; wings and tail as
he throat white speckled with green, and the white gorget dull and clouded.
5
in the male; t
The figures are of the natural size ; the plant is a species of Brugmansia, common in the country fre-
quented by the birds.
CRIT 0 ANN er ns pry ana sree ra a
EO EG
ere
“De
‘p
X OY he ; x x im TX t \ y yX SRS C <¢ i 1 , : 7
2c O) he ot . IX yeh SE =e
A EA Fg x ° ' J
&
An
yh i mY BeNS a rg ES ev
os 2555 . ~ - . ae As ;
As ote’ Ola" Fe PHS Att OD Asti O
es OS >. Begeseoes
C7 = _ oa , t we 4
TNE ee oN 7 - a er | c Linn e
&
BOURCIERIA FULGIDIGULA, Gowa
Green-Throated Inca.
Tur Loddigesian Collection at Hackney has for many years been graced with specimens of this Humming
Bird, collected in Peru, and M. Bourcier obtained numerous examples in Ecuador, some of which are Or
in my own collection. This gentleman and myself have hitherto considered the Zrochilus insectivorus of
Dr. Tschudi and the present bird to be identical, but having been permitted by the authorities of the Museum
at Neufchatel to bring the original of Dr. Tschudi’s description to London, for the purpose of comparison,
I now believe the two birds to be quite distinct; I have therefore given the present species a distinctive
appellation, namely, that of fudgidigula, with reference to its glittering green throat. It is very nearly allied
to Bourcieria torquata, but differs in having the spot on the crown green instead of blue, and in the richer
hue and greater amount of green on the throat. Its native country is evidently the northern parts of the
Peruvian Andes, including Ecuador.
The sexes present the same differences that are observable in Bourcieria torquata, and the females of the
two species are so nearly alike, that the one can scarcely be distinguished from the other.
The male has the forehead, nape, upper part of the back, face and ear-coverts black with green reflexions ;
in the centre of the crown a nearly triangular mark of metallic green; shoulders, spurious wing, three inner
secondaries, back and upper tail-coverts deep green ; chin and throat beautifully spangled with green; a
large gorget of pure white across the breast; abdomen black with green reflexions on the tips of the
feathers; thighs black; tarsi white ; toes yellowish rose-colour ; wings purplish brown ; two central tail-
feathers dark olive-green ; the remainder pure white tipped with dark olive-green, which colour also extends
down the external margin of the outer feather for three parts of its length.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size, on a species of Stefftia.
TNC
| TN RI 0 en or i mn poy os 8 wT NOD)
BOURCIERIA CONRADI,
Conrad’s Inea.
Trochilus Conradi, Boure. in Proc. of Zool. Soe., part xv. p. 45.
Mellisuga Conradii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. pee eke Mellisuga, sp. 14.
Conradinia Conradz, Reich. Auf. der Cok p. 10.
Bourcieria conradz, Bonap. Consp. Gen. AY De oF Bourcieria, sp. 3.—Ib. Rev. Zool. 1854,
p. 252.
Ir is after the son of the late George Loddiges that this splendid and very rare species has been named,—
ay be truly said loved this group of birds ; and
ompliment paid him by M. Bourcier in giving his
a just and graceful tribute to the descendant of one, who it m
Tam sure that Mr. Conrad Loddiges duly estimates the ¢
name to so charming a bird.
In point of affinity, this species is intimately allied both to the Bourcieria torquata and B. fulgidigula, but
differs from both not only in the lighter hue of the green colour pervading the upper and under surface, but
in the total absence of blue on the crown, that part being resplendent green in B. Conradi. The native
country of this fine bird is stated by M. Bourcier to be the « environs of Caraccas ;” but my specimens were,
I believe, procured by M. Linden near Pamplona, in New Granada. Like the other typical species of the
genus, the sexes differ considerably in the colouring of their plumage; the female having the throat white,
and being destitute of the elittering green on the crown. Judging from the appearance of the dried skins,
it would seem that the legs in the living state are yellow.
The male has the head shining green, the remainder of the upper surface, wing-coverts, throat, sides of
i -eflexi 3.8 ‘rOSS 5 c thy ° VI oS
the neck, abdomen and flanks green, with golden reflexions; across the chest a broad suas of w a ; wings
purplish brown; two central tail-feathers bronzy green, the remainder white, largely tipped with bronzy
green; vent grey; under tail-coverts green ; thighs white; beak black; feet ee oe
The female is similar, but is less brilliant, and has the throat as well as the breast white or bu y white.
The figures are of the natural size.
SRT | ST I TN rr see
BOURCIERIA UNGAR carn
Inca.
Bourcieria Inca, Gould in Jard. Cont. to Orn. 1852, p. 186.
-
iE
inca, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rey, et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252
a en Ae eT
We are indebted to M. Warszewicz for the discovery of this very charm: . :
. iy seouen of this very char ming species, examples of both sexes
of which grace my collection. They were obtained during the month of July
oe: : : in the province of Coroico in
Bolivia, while hovering over
a species of Bejaria. at an alti Ce oe : a
i ; : a Sy} Beyaria, at an altitude of from six to eight thousand feet. The
rst example 1 received was a young’ male hic nav neyeronray es Se 71: : :
first exar I as a | g male, of which I gave a description in Sir William Jardine’s “ Contribu-
J
5) Riri ® Feet I (Shs re Ce 2 a A
tions to Ornithology ” for 1852, accompanied by the remark, that, «whenever the adult 1
é ; becomes known, it
will doubtless prove to be one of the finest species of the Trochilide
yet discovered.” In the interval which
has since elapsed, an adult example of each sex has been obtained, and I am therefore enabled to attempt
their delineation; and an attempt is all it can be called, for it is utterly impossible to give a correct
Bopgesentation of clues plitiering gem on paper. It is by far the finest species of the genus to which I have
assigned it, and affords additional evidence of the extraordinary richness of the natural productions of the
Peruvian and Bolivian forests. Like the other members of the genus, it frequents moderately high lands
where an almost equable temperature prevails.
The male has the crown of the head, back of the neck, sides of the face and throat jet-black, relieved by
a spot of glitterig green on the forehead ; the tips of the feathers on the throat are also fringed with the
same, but less brilliant, hue; across the throat a crescent of rich cinnamon-red extending upwards on to the
sides of the neck; all the upper and under surfaces beautiful green, assuming a metallic lustre on the breast
and flanks ; upper tail-coverts and two central tail-feathers green with bronzy reflexions ; lateral tail-feathers
white tipped with bronzy green, which colours extend down the margin of the outer ones for three-fourths
of their length; under tail-coverts green; wings purplish brown; feathers of the thighs and tarsi white ;
bill black ; feet yellow or flesh-colour.
The female has the crown of the head and back of the neck green, clouded with black ; back, upper tail-
coverts, shoulders and flanks vivid bronzy green; throat, cheeks and gorget-like band on the breast cinna-
mon-red, clouded on the throat with brown, and spangled with green on the cheeks; thighs buffy white ;
wings and tail as in the male.
The figures represent both sexes of the size of life.
S |
(ETE | TIS res pa en a a ae
Ss _—s
an As
EN ro
}
|
|
|
SS
°
G 6
BYO4 MA
ee \\
Nearer
LJ oN
y
i
se
zd OS
, PIR ste ees
» ‘ ‘_-
» SSO tee he bee 7 : s
a
es.
Ss see” LSE Sk ey SESS ; RN ate - © Pi Ss . =
Pe ety ty y ses eared:
-
ON s 5
a Pit’ A pit ge
N a
FAO FAAS
ef ad
ae
gt
. .
Pe es ae
x wo
oe . a
CCELIGENA TYPICA.
Ceeligene.
erasing Celigena, Less. Les Troch., Deacon
p. 93. pl. 4.
Mellisuga ceelhgena, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p-
Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. ii.
112, Mellisuga, sp. 15.
Caeligena typica, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 73, Caeligena, sp. 1.
Celigena typica, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, pe 202.
Were not the numerous specimens of this bird, which we have of late years
received, all perfectly alike, we
might naturally suppose that they were birds clothed in an immature dress,
or females of some species the
on the lower part of the back,
and consisting of a metallic lustre on the edges of the rump-feathers, which is only visible in certain lights ;
late discoveries, however, have made us acquainted with other species of this form, in which a similar style
of plumage prevails, and we now find that there is a large group of these plainly-coloured birds, to which,
therefore, a distinctive generic title has with propriety been given; all inhabit the great Andean ranges,
and one or other of the species is found from the Isthmus of Panama to Bolivia. It is not, however, on
the bleak Sierras that these birds must be sought for, but on the first Steppes of the Andes, above the great
plains which stretch away to the eastward. I have always considered the Bolivian bird to be different from
the one here figured, and if this opinion be correct, the range of the latter will be more limited than it at
present appears to be. I have seen specimens from Ecuador, Popayan, Quito, Quijos, Bogota, and the
Caraccas, beyond which, in all probability, its range does not extend. Mr. Mark informs me that the
Bogota specimens are collected in the hot districts of Gramalote, which lie to the eastward of that city,
at an elevation of from one to two thousand feet.
males of which were not known; all the bright colour which occurs being
I believe that there is little or no difference in the colouring of the sexes, and that the female can only be
distinguished by her smaller size.
The head, neck, back and wing-coverts are bronzy crimson-brown, becoming brighter bronze on the
lower part of the back and rump, the feathers of which parts are fringed vr metallic grass-green, the
brilliancy of which is most conspicuous when viewed from behind ; wings purplish brown ; nes tail-coverts
rich peddish bronze ; tail bronzy green ; feathers of the throat grey with brown centres, giving that part a
scaly appearance ; flanks and abdomen purplish brown ; under tail-coverts brownish green edged with buff.
The figures are the size of life.
A, Gould
SWE | UES RII TN rm spy am ns a Ya O\..wa-.. LENS. WE Ce) A-
COALIGENA PURPUREA.
Purple Ceeligene.
I wave lately received from M. Parzudaki, of Paris, a fine specimen of this bird, which I believe to be from
ee : SE ar, ee eA eee Pp : : ie ?
the neighbourhood of Popayan ; a second example forms part of the collection of Edward Wilson, Esq.,
and is said to have been killed in Peru. Both specimens appear to be fully adult, and, like the Cedigena
typica, they are never adorned with any other metallic colouring than that which occurs on the beautiful
fringe-like edges of the feathers of the lower part of the back and rump.
The Celigena purpurea is a larger and more powerful bird than C. ¢ypica, and differs also from that species
in the much deeper colour of the tail, in the rich purple hue of its head, neck and shoulders, and in having
a somewhat obscure lunate mark of white on each side the chest; in this last particular it offers an alliance
to the Wilson?, but from which also I am convinced it is specifically distinct.
The shoulders bluish purple ; head, neck, back and wing-coverts very dark purple, becoming of a bronzy
hue on the lower part of the back and rump, where also the feathers are fringed with metallic grass-green,
most conspicuous when the bird is viewed from behind; tail very dark bronzy purple; wings purplish
brown; on each side the chest a lunate mark of white ; the remainder of the under surface very dark purplish
brown; the feathers of the throat edged with grey, giving that part a scaly appearance, and the under tail-
coverts with buff.
The figures represent the bird of the size of life.
o]
Ox Oe
: 5 i
Sf oe 4
rx AY aS -
S io '
Ww
ae
£ Wodtew
tad
Hudiynaa
COHLIGENA PRUNELLI.
Prunelle’s Ceeligene.
Trochilus Prunell, Boure. Ann. de |
Zool. 1843, p. 40:
Mellisuga Prunelle:, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112 Mellisuga, sp. 11
a Soe. Sci. de Lyon, tom. vi. 1843, p. 36. pl. 1.—Ib. Rev.
Homophama Prunella, Reich. Aufz. der Col., De LO:
Bourcieria prunelli, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 202
' ~ = Z . ~ S ~ ar = * 2 > . e im ,
Tuts, like most of the straight-billed Humming-birds, is a native of Columbia and New Grenada; it is a
) Cc 3 €
most interesting and attractive species, and is plentifully sent to this country from Bogota: seldom indeed
does a collection arrive from that part of South America which does not contain examples. M. Bourcier
gives the environs of Facativa, in Columbia, as one of the localities in which specimens have been procured.
The conspicuous white mark on the side of the chest, beautifully relieved by the black of the surrounding
parts, the glittering glaucous green of the shoulders, and the variegated colouring of the back, all tend
to render it remarkably different from its congeners.
The specific name, bestowed upon this bird by
M. Bourcier, is intended as a compliment to Dr. Prunelle, one of the scientific celebrities of the city of
Lyons. ;
The sexes present no marked difference in their colouring, but the female is rather less brilliant, and
somewhat smaller than her mate.
General plumage dark purplish-black ; a bronzy gloss on the forehead; a narrow mark of bluish-green on
the lower part of the throat; on each side the chest a large and conspicuous patch of white ; wing-coverts
steel-blue with green reflexions ; wings dark purplish-brown ; tail dark velvety purplish-black ; under tail-
coverts fringed with white; back and upper tail-coverts, when viewed from behind a mass of colour,
of which language can convey no idea, being a mingling of crimson, green, purple and red, changing with
the direction of the rays of light, or perfectly iridescent ; bill black; feet fleshy-brown.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is a portion of the Chamedorea Ernesti-Augustt.
CS | TR IIT 0 No rr re ory one et Fa ee fe
]
i
i
] o
a
od
7
2s
—
>
ed
Ci
AL
gl
Hullrisndd &
Walton
[ip
COALIGENA WILSONT.
Wilson’s Ceelizene.
Trochilus Wilson, De Latt. et Boure. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 305
Mellisuga Wilson, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i p. 112, Melk 13
: Salen » Methsuga, sp. 13.
, p.73, Bourcieria sp. 4.—Ib. Rev. et M
/ eo 7 , sp. 4. : y. et Mag. de Zool.
| oe Be goe Reichenb. Troch. enumer., p. 7. pl. pecxr. figs. 4723, 4724.
Lampropygia Wilson, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 10.
Bourcieria Wilson, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av.
ve little to communicate respecting the bir re figured ; it 1 i ite disti
Teak c I g the bird here figured ; it is certainly quite distinct from every other
with which we are acquainted, but I doubt not that I have placed
belongs, namely, Celgena; for Coen it in that genus to which it truly
elongs, namely, Catigena; for, upon comparing it with the we
ll-known species, C. ¢ypica and C. purpurea,
and the distribution of the colouring is very simil
only exception being that the throat of this species is luminous; the f
no structural differences whatever are observable ;
ar, the
three birds are in fact intimately allied,
group, which does not admit of or require
the lustrous fringing of the feathers of the back and rump—being
common to the whole of them, and not observable in any others of the Trochilid
and, with the Prune/i, appear to me to constitute a natural
separation ; one very peculiar character
‘ 2 ee ez yet discovered.
The Cehgena Wilsont has been named in honour of Edward Wilson, Esq., of Tenby in Pembrokeshire
. a . . 5 * y
a gentleman who, OU not himself Z professed ornithologist, has contributed both largely and liberally
towards the promotion of that branch of science. The native country of the bird is Ecuador, whence it
; Lcu ‘
extends northward to the latitude of Bogota, and southward to the confines of Peru. But little difference
will, I believe, be found in the colouring of the sexes; the female as well as the male, in all the specimens
I have seen, possesses the purple colouring of the throat, but in no instance to so great an extent as in
the latter sex.
M. Bourcier states, that in the neighbourhood of Quito it inhabits the sheltered valleys of the Andes, at
an elevation of ten thousand feet, and that he has killed numerous specimens in the valley of Nono, to the
o
north of Quito.
Head and all the upper surface bronzy brown, changing to bronzy green on the wing-coverts and back,
the green of the back being most apparent when viewed from behind; upper tail-coverts bronzy brown ;
wings purplish brown ; tail bronze, changing to green towards the margin of the feathers, and narrowly edged
with dark brown; chin and ear-coverts dark brown; throat fine purple, bounded on the sides and below by
a narrow band of brownish black; on each side the neck a patch of greyish white; under surface obscure
brownish grey washed with bronze; under tail-coverts reddish brown ; bill black; feet brown.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life. The plant is the Trichopilia suavis.
—
+
»,
ss
D)
yO a a OT Nd
c i ' Ph BO :
EA yes SY 2 i AN
"£0 es Bak a Seay ct | Fy ey. 7 N : ’ - : . 4 5 TANO
HELIOMASTER LONGIROST
Long-billed Star-throat.
RIS.
Trochilus longirostris, Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. p. 107 pl. 59.—Ib. 2nde F
: - pl. 99.—Ib. 2nde Edit.
d’ Hist. Nat., tom. vii. p. 366.—Ib. du Nouv. Dict.
Eney. Méth. O ii
: 2 os ieee - Urm., part nu. 5
____ — superbus, Shaw, Nat. Misc., vol. xiii. plea eee part u. p. 566.
-—1b. Gen.
fig. 2.—Temm. Pl. C
p. 94.
Ornismya superba, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou p- 40. pl. 2.—T
“9 . e oo oe NUL)
Hist., vol. viii. p. 323. vl. 4
ea : . p. 323. pl. 41.
O 9. fig. 1—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. ii
Hist. Nat. des Col., p- 164.
—Supp. des Ois. mou., pl. 33.—II} mm.
p- 278. » Les Troch., p. 99. pl. 34.—Ib. Traité d’Orn.
Long-billed Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p-. 354
Mellisuga longirostris, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds. vol. j p- 112, Mellisuga, sp. 4
? © hes a5 Les 1, SP. a.
Helhomaster longirostris, Bonap. Cons on. Av
g ap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 70, Heliomaster, sp. 2.
A.ruoueu not known to Linneus, this species of Hummine Bird is ; se with whi i i
have been longest acquainted, having aoe figured ea ‘hk ne ee ae a Tie es
: ‘ ua g g arly in the present century in Shaw’s “ Naturalist’s
Miscellany,” and the ‘‘ Oiseaux dorées” of M. Vieillot. Most of the specimens contained in our collections
are from the island of Trinidad, where it appears to be common; it also inhabits the neighbouring ae
of the continent—Demerara, Cayenne, and the Caraccas, specimens from all of ore are mre alike
in every particular. I have no positive evidence that it crosses to the Isthmus of Panama, or that it ene
the States of Veragua and Costa Rica, but a species is there found to which it is so nearly allied, that
the two birds might easily be confounded. 3 _
The Heliomaster longirostris is subject to considerable variation in its colouring, due either to age or sex,
but the true cause of which is at present unknown; thus individuals are often found with the Annee almost
entirely black, with a well-defined white line running from the gape down each side of the neck, and
with the whole of the under surface of a much lighter grey than is observed in others, in which the rich
colouring of the crown and throat is fully developed.
The descriptions given below are of individuals exhibiting the extreme variations of plumage and the
intermediate state.
Forehead and crown metallic green, slightly tinged with blue; chin black; throat luminous crimson ;
occiput and nape greenish bronze ; upper surface and wing-coverts shining green, with a bronzy lustre; on
the centre of the back a longitudinal mark of white; wings deep purple-brown; two centre tail-feathers
bronzy green, the remainder bronzy green at the base, passing into the dull black of their apical portion ;
the outer feather on each side with a large oval spot of white at the extremity of the inner web, the next
with a smaller spot in the same position, and the third with a minute spot at the tip; below the eye a streak
of black, and beneath this another of white; under surface grey, with a broad irregular line of white down
the centre, and with a wash of green on the flanks, between which and the back is a tuft of snow-white
feathers; under tail-coverts olive-brown, margined and tipped with white; bill black; feet blackish
brown.
In another, perhaps the youthful state, the upper surface is brown, glossed with bronzy green; the white
spots at the tips of the outer tail-feathers are larger, especially that on the third; the throat is black,
glossed on the lower part only with dull metallic crimson ; the under surface lighter, and the white mark
on the side of the face much more conspicuous.
altogether of a much darker or browner hue on
The supposed female is very similar to the last, but is
on the throat; both have the white mark on the
the upper surface, and has no trace of the crimson lustre
back and the white tufts on the sides equally conspicuous.
The Plate represents two adult males, and what is supposed to be an adult female.
Ba SO RN rr en
vA
&
S
Z ~
o>
ss
et
S
4
Za
x
Ill
5
iyi
4
3
UCIT ANI
HIN
2
om 4
il
L
|
ub, PS
es tN -
S;
HELIOMASTER CONSTANTI.
Constant’s Star-throat.
Trochilus Constant, De Latt. Echo du Monde Savante, Juin 1843
I nave for a long time had examples of this bird in my collection with the name of Constants attached thereto,
but I have mo as yet been able to find a description of it in any work; the “Echo du Monde Savante,” in
which it is said to be eeu, being merely a kind of newspaper or journal of the day, and consequently
seldom cared for after perusal, is now so rare as to be unprocurable. I must therefore content myself with
concluding that the name has been rightly applied.
I have received numerous examples direct from Guatemala, which I can affirm to be its true habitat ; I
have never seen it from the more southern countries of Veragua and Costa Rica, or the comparatively
northern ones of Mexico proper; I have but little doubt that it inhabits the temperate and sterile regions
of that country, especially those that are favourable to the growth of pines and various species of oak. Its
brilliant scarlet throat will at all times serve to distinguish this from the other members of the genus.
The sexes present the usual difference of size, the female being smaller than her mate; in their colouring
they are very similar, but the extent of the red on the throat is much less, and occupies the lower portion
only in the female ; and in some individuals of this sex is almost obsolete.
The tufts of white feathers on the sides, the irregular line of the same hue down the centre of the band,
and the white line descending from the gape, are conspicuous features in this species.
Head, the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts bronzy green, deepening into a sooty hue on the forehead ;
wings dull purplish brown; two centre tail-feathers bronzy green, the remainder bronzy green at the base,
passing into black towards the tip, the extent of the green decreasing and of the black increasing as the
feathers recede from the centre; each with a spot of white at the tip, that on the outer one occupying both
webs, but not reaching quite to the tip of the outer web ; the white spot on the others at the extremity of
the inner web and gradually decreasing in size; spot behind the eye, streak down the cheeks, tuft on each
side, and a line down the rump, white; chin black; throat rich deep lumimous metallic red ; under surface
grey, washed with bronzy green on the flanks; under tail-coverts olive-brown, margined with white ; bill
black; feet dark brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
SURF SRT NR TOI 0 Nr pas ne ae ee
RAR Sw
RINE Bot A
rt Ge fs
ae
We
HR LIOMASTER PI NICOLA , Gould
9
[UNV TTA
il | Lea] 2| si al f
9 Wa rN
BQ. ela STS
HELIOMASTER PINICOLA, Gould.
Pine Star-throat.
Heliomaster pinicola, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, 1853
Tue late Damiano Floresi will always be remembered by Trochilidists as one WhOrHES heen The ee
: é ans 0
making known a us many of the Humming Birds of Mexico, and in acknowledging the value of his
exertions, I feel that I am only rendering justice to one to whom we are all so largely fadlelviedl, and) I
Re the dij € the bird £ egrets his premature decease than myself.
V > aiscovery of the bird figured on the accompanying P {. Floresi
almost sole habitat of this species is the lofty pine a of ae — oe
ae : ) ges rm Mexico, a
mstanc eons) evidence that a peculiar vegetation is accompanied by a corresponding
peculiarity in animal life; thus, the vegetation of its habitat being of a sombre character, the colouring of
the present bird is of a similar hue, rendering it conspicuously different from most other Humming nee
It is the northern or Mexican representative of the H. Constanti of Guatemala, to which it is ee nearly
i it from which it differs i ing s ae ate ae ee ee ee
allied, br rs in being somewhat larger in size, in having a more mealy grey style of
would add, that none of his numerous friends more sincerely r
It is to him that we :
informed me that the
circumstance affording
plumage, in the feathers of the red gorget being of a crimson rather than a scarlet hue, in their occupying
the lower part of the throat only, and in each of these feathers being fringed with grey. .
The same difference in the size of the sexes occurs in this as in the other species, and the female also
differs from her mate in having a trace only of the gorget on the lower part of the throat.
Head, upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts dull bronzy green, passing into dark grey on the forehead ;
wings dull purplish brown; two centre tail-feathers bronzy green, tipped with purplish black; lateral
feathers bronzy green at the base, passing into purplish black; the extent of the green decreasing and of
the black increasing as the feathers recede from the centre, each with a spot of white at the tip, that on
the outer one occupying both webs, but not reaching quite to the margin of the outer one, the white spot
on the others at the extremity of the inner web and gradually decreasing in size; spot behind the eye, streak
down the cheeks, streak down the rump, tuft on each flank, and vent, white; upper part of the throat dark
grey, each feather narrowly fringed with white; lower part of the throat deep luminous crimson, each
feather margined with grey; under tail-coverts brown, largely tipped with white ; bill black; feet dark
brown.
The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life.
By some inadvertence the term Heliomaster has been printed on the Plate Hehoster.
ON MORES NO E Cw, NE)
pn 3 re SN EN)
7
Ee
“7. ie yo
BOS
cs
i
me Se a Fs
lt Walter
Aiillinande
Qactax
SENS
B t Heatley
Za
ATT IRI
se
/ Gould
HELIOMASTER MES
Stripe-breasted Star
OLEUCUS.
-throat.
Trochilus mesoleucus, Temm. Pl. Col. 317.
oo longirostris, Natt. (Bonap.).
—_—— squamosus, Temm. Pl. Col. 203. hieae
mystacinus, Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. lll. ined. pls. 21 mal
c a. e, 22 female, 23 y
ane Dis nce ; male, £39 youne.
Ornismya Temminckii, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou. o 5
DSO pl. 20.
mesoleuca, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., Je JUD, Jol, QD), Sx). — ih Traité vO
- pls. £9, 30.—Ib. Traité d’Or.,
pe 278.
Mellisuga mesoleuca, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 246
squamosa, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. OAs
melanoleuca, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, y
Heliomaster mesoleucus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av
ol Ties oemieloe Mellisuga, sp. 5.
-+ p. 70, Heliomaster, sp. 3.
ee
Waue Z. longirostris inhabits the north-eastern charec af & ! i
gros ant orth eastern shores of South America, and ZH. Angele the southern,
the present species dwells in the intermediate country,
é ues its more favourite localities appearing to be
the interior districts rather than those near the coast ; :
7 ; ae for although it is rarely found in the immediate
vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, it 1s tolerably numerous in the rich provinces of Minas Geraes, and from thence
extends to the latitudes of oe and Pernambuco. Mr. Reeves, who has afforded me much information
respecting ney geeores of Hous mnlyp simply says, in reference to the present bird, that it ‘inhabits Minas
Geraes and Bahia, but is rare in Rio:” to this gentleman, however, I am indebted for a nest of this species,
which is remarkable for the situation in which it is deposited,—the middle of a lengthened, pendent, rope-
like mass of lichen, probably a species of Usnea; the nest itself being constructed of some glossy vegetable
material, apparently the scales from the receptacle of one of the Composite, decorated on the outside with
small flakes of a pale buffy coloured bark, and lined within with a substance, which would seem to be the
white silky hairs which crown the seeds of some species of Asclepiadee.
The material of which the nest is composed varies, apparently in accordance with the materials at hand,
but it appears to be always attached to some pendent object, a mass of lichens, a leaf, &c., as in an account
published by the Vicomte de Tarragon in the “ Revue Zoologique” for 1844, of a nest in his possession, he
states that it is ‘‘ attached vertically, by means of some viscid substance, to a large leaf of a plant unknown
to me, but which in its shape and size exactly resembles a leaf of Catalpa. It is composed entirely of
cotton, without a particle of any other material.”
Head luminous grass-green; throat-frill luminous purplish crimson; upper surface and wing-coverts
bronzy green; two centre tail-feathers deep green, glossed with bronze, remainder of the tail-feathers
purplish black ; beneath the eye a line of white; under surface very dark green, with an irregular line of
white down the centre, and a tuft of white feathers on the sides between the flanks and back; under tail-
coverts blackish green, margined and tipped with white ; bill black ; feet dark brown.
The young are very similar in colour, but the green of the head is much less brilliant, au the throat-
feathers are black bordered with white, giving that part a scaly appearance, whence M. Temminck’s name
of sguamatus.
The female has the whole of the upper surface bronz
base passing into black, the three outer feathers on each side tipped with white, the white being Coe aor
on the outer one, less so on the next, and still less on the third; throat-feathers dark olive, margined with
white; under surface bronzy green, with a mesial stripe of white.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
y green; the tail-feathers greenish bronze at the
Fl
i
y
»
a
yy)
De
Dy
AE | CN RTI 0 a Nr a
wt =.
sh ie O)
5
i
4
|
3
2
UYITYUATTY ANT
i
A, ' " ?} A “ eA ? y
; oN eS r w% A Pe es tANG 8 ExRe SAP PAE:
Pe
rey OD
owe
S
HELIOMASTER ANGELA.
Angela Star-throat,
Ornismya Angele, Less. Il. de Zool., pl. 45.
Heliomaster angele, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 70, Heliomaster, sp. 1
Tus very beautiful Humming Bird ranges over the countries
of Buenos Ayres, Corrientes, and I believe the
banks of the Parana generally ;
it is from these countries re received spec}
from Chili, as stated by M. Lesson; in addition to hee Oe ; - os ca a ae
2 ‘ alities, Mr. Reeves informs me that it also
inhabits Matto-grosso in Brazil. It is by no means common in our collections, a circumstance doubtless
owing to its habitat not having been often visited by collectors from France or from this country ; other:
wise, from its extreme beauty and elegance, it could not have failed to attract their notice. -
In the absence of all information respecting the habits and economy of this species, M. Lesson, after
noticing the lengthened and slender form of the bill, remarks, that ordinarily it must obtain its food from
the bottoms of bell-shaped flowers ; and that it is from within the flowers of dhe Bignonias and of the long
lianes with tubular corollas, which entwine and interlace each other in the forests ei the New World, that
this Humming Bird procures the small soft insects upon which it feeds.
Crown of the head luminous metallic green, changing in some lights to aquamarine, in others to bluish
green, and in others to golden green ; all the upper surface and the wing-coverts golden green, the golden
hue predominating on the lower part of the back; wings purplish brown; tail purplish black, glossed with
dark green; immediately behind the eye a spot of white, and on the cheeks a streak of grey; centre of the
throat rich metallic purplish crimson, on each side of which is a series of elongated feathers of a rich deep
metallic blue; under surface deep green, passing into rich blue on the middle of the body ; tuft on each
side and vent white; under tail-coverts green, fringed with white; bill black; feet blackish brown.
The female has the whole of the upper surface golden bronze, inclining to grey on the crown ; tail green,
deepening into black towards the extremity, and a spot of white at the tip of the three outer feathers of
each side; wings purplish brown; all the under surface grey, fading into white on the throat and middle
of the abdomen.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size.
Pa rary AP) NR | RN ER a
5
NNN
|
4
MM
3
2
TANT
nu
em 1|
|
|
|!
OKT) ORLY MO CORES O) Og is
«
Le G A Cans ci
oA
a \
OREOPYRA LEUCASPIS, Gould.
White-throated Oreopyra.
Oreopyra leucasprs, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe., part xxvii. p. 312.
Wirn what activity and perseverance the South American traveller, Warszewicz, scaled the sides of the
WICZ, sides
ded, the curious and interesting Humming-Bird
mule delayed describing this new bird for several years
after it came into 2 ossess10n, in the hope os additional examples might arrive; but up to the present
month of March oe!) I ene oul seen the single individual from which my figure is taken, and which
graces my own collection. This unique example is, I am Sorry to say, in a very bad
it is evidently a mature male, which, when shot, was in all the splendour of a fr
yolcano of Chiriqui, and how well his exertions were rewar
represented on the accompanying Plate will testify. I
state of preservation ;
esh moult; but so woefully
ler these circumstances, it is much to
be desired that some other traveller should procure us additional examples, and transmit at the
is it mutilated, that I am scarcely able to figure it with accuracy. Unc
same time
an account of its habits, and not omit to inform us if the sexes offer any marked differences in their style
of colouring. I am particularly desirous of information on this latter point, because I have for some years
entertained a suspicion that the birds I have mentioned in my account of Adelomyia castaneoventris may be
related to the present bird,
a point which further research alone can enable us to determine.
The Oreopyra leucaspis differs from every other member of the family in the beautiful silvery whiteness of
its throat, relieved by the surrounding black and green of the body and the glittering grass-green of
the crown; I have therefore made it the type of a new genus. It is as elegant in all its proportions as
in its colouring it is chaste and harmonious ; consequently, when better known, it will doubtless become
a great favourite with collectors.
The volcano of Chiriqui is situated in Costa Rica, a region evidently teeming with objects of beauty and
novelty: it was here, at an elevation of from nine to ten thousand feet, that M. Warszewicz shot the bird,
and immediately transmitted to me a drawing of it in a letter; and I offer my best thanks to this gentleman
for his kind attention.
Crown of the head exceedingly beautiful glittering grass-green ; back of the neck and all the upper
surface deep grass-green with bronzy reflexions; throat pure ae contrasting conspicuously inl
glittering grass-green of the breast; flanks and abdomen greyish green with bronzy ee aes
purplish brown ; tail forked and steel-black ; thighs thickly dloted with pony or greyish ae a
behind the eye, and extending some distance down the sides of the neck, is a stripe of pure white ; bi
straight, and both mandibles of a uniform black.
The figures are of the natural size. ‘The plant is the Pachyphytum bracteosum.
= say ae EN UM Bd NS
BIE re BRAS | SUN 0 i
qt
4| 5
3
2
{UVETYTT GAD
te
OE Leo) OAS
SUR eS
wa aos TNS BAO “/"
% *
ow
oN
~ Sa
a aN
UF
EUSTEPHANUS GALERITUS
Chilian Fire-crown.
Trochilus galeritus, Mol. Hist. of Chili, Pp 219 Vath. Ind. Orn.
Hadit., tom. lin. p. 317.—Vieill. Eney. Méth.
Colibri du Chih, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. j. p. 125.
Chili Humming-Bird, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii, Pp: 170th, Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 30
Mellisuga Kingii, Vig. in Zool. Journ., vol. iii. p- 482. eee:
Ornismya sephanoides, Less. et Garn. Voy. de |
»tom. i. p. 304.—Buff. Sonn.
Orn., part i. p. 582.
a Coq. Ois., pl. 31. fig
Ois. mou., peo. pl. 14.—Supp. p. 109. joll. &. ;
Trochilus sephanoides, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, Vv
2. 2.—Less. Hist. Nat. des
ol. i. p. 118. laze
___— forficatus, Zool. of Beagle, part 11. Birds, p- 110.
a flammifrons, Lyell.
Wisuga galerita, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i
Mellisuga 9 , : eS aelales
’ Vy p- ~v.
OD: Sephanoides, sp. 1.
- . NV « 5 ‘ ” € » o . eo Ag zs s 2: os
Ir our celebrated voyager Captain Cook added to his renown as a circumnavigator by discovering that the
Rufous Flame-bearer (Se/asphorus rufus) is an inhabit
ant of the high north-western regions of America, scarcely
that the present fine species is a denize
del Fuego, the extreme southern limits of that great continent, wl
less interesting was the discovery made by Captain King, n of Terra
rere it was observed by him flitting about
It is impossible to conceive why so delicate a creature
should voluntarily resort to situations apparently so opposite to those
among flowering shrubs in the midst of a snow-storm.
for which it seems fitted; and our
wonder that it does so is much increased, when we find that it is capable of performing migrations over a
yast extent of country, passing, as it does, the summer in Patagonia and the southern parts of Chili, and
retiring northwards to the confines of Peru, when the season becomes too rigorous for it to sustain life in
those regions.
Mr. Darwin has given so admirable an account of this species in his Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle
(where by some inadvertence the name and synonyms belonging to another species have been given to it),
that it would be an act of injustice to this accomplished naturalist were I not to give the entire passage in
his own words. | | |
“This species,” says Mr. Darwin, “is found over a space of 2500 miles on ae west coe oe the hot
dry country of Lima to the forests of Terra del . uego, me it oe been described by Captain King as flit-
ting about in a snow-storm. In the wooded is) apelos Chile, which Has a exbremely Jem climate, this
little bird, skipping from side to side amidst the humid foliage, and uttering its acute chirp, is perhaps more
abundant than any other kind. It there very commonly frequents open marshy ground, welnene a kind of
Bromelia grows: hovering near the edge of the thick Ineds, it every a and oe dashes ne me
ground; but I could not see whether it ever actually alighted. At that ane of the year ae i
few flowers, and none whatever near the beds of Bromelia. oi es quite sure that i a a ne
on honey; and on opening the stomach and upper ie ea the aid of : lens I oo be ee
in a yellow fluid, morsels of the wings of Diptera, probably pales It is evident He mee mE - oe
for minute insects in their winter-quarters under the thick fohage. I opened ithe ee F : a ere ae
mens which were shot in different parts of the continent, and in all reuanns of oe ae ee :
formine a comminuted mass. In one killed at Valparaiso, I found portions of an ant. ae eer ee
Minds, at a season when there were flowers in open places, the damp recesses of the fo1 |
: : : f . lees ae sarance t > : :
favourite haunt. In central Chili these birds are LOL ENO ney nn. eee
the first arrival which I observed was on the 14th of April (corr a me ene is ee
they were numerous. They stay throughout the winter, and begin to disappeé
Ss Saw ¢ 1 ( iV1 C °] f th 2 yer iod ot their summer!
of cto ; m ul. blo d
and the Chonos Islands, countries south of Chili. Near the
; : .
+ with eoos nearly hatched. It was of the ordi-
h end of Chiloe, I found on the 8th of December a nest with eggs nearly he .
ee, vot al diameter, and not deep, composed externally of coarse
c c 7 9
migration, nests were very common 11 Chiloe
nary form, rather more than an inch in nulneaee fervee, forming a very fine reddish fibrous mass.
fine moss neatly woven together, and ed oe the cere septa were quite distinct ;
I feel no doubt regarding the nature of this me ae s | ri cryptogamic plants. ‘The eggs were
hence we may afer that this Humming-bird builds its nest entirely as
AO) SF ALN ar 2.
may Ce NO ie
m RPA oe Sra
ee
7
6
OS:
—
at
. GC
i}
AG
A
AC
of Yo.GV
TG
AOR
perfectly white, elongated, or rather almost cylindrical, with rounded ends; °657 of an inch in length, and
‘352 of an inch in transverse diameter. In January, at the Chonos Islands, when there were young in the
nest, a considerable number of old birds were shot ; of these, however, few or scarcely any had the shining
crest of the male. In the only specimen, which I carefully examined, the metallic tips of the young feathers
of the crest were just beginning to protrude. Several of these males without their crest had a yellowish
gorge, and I saw some with a few light brown feathers on their backs; these appearances being doubtless
connected with their state of moult.”
The description of this bird in Molina’s ‘ History of Chili,’ where it was first named, is so very tmaccu-
rate, that, had we not other evidence upon which we can rely, that his description cannot refer to any other
species, I should have hesitated about adopting his specific appellation ; as, however, there can be no doubt
on the subject, and the name has priority over that assigned to it by Mr. Vigors in honour of Captain King,
I have, like other ornithologists, retained the name originally given.
The male has the crown of the head rich, deep, glittering, fiery orange-red ; upper surface, wing-coverts
and tail bronzy green; wings purplish brown; throat greyish white, with a small oval spot of brown near
the tip of each feather ; breast and abdomen greyish brown, glossed on the flanks and spotted on the breast
with bronzy green; under tail-coverts pale bronzy green, margined with greyish white ; bill black ; feet
brown.
The female and young males of the year are similar in colour to the male in every respect, except in being
entirely destitute of the luminous crown, that part being of a dull brown.
The figures represent two males and a female, on the Lardizabala biternata, of the natural size.
ONIN
A Oe
a3 S|
Py MS
aS
AS
Ai:
5
Waa
a & Ae Ae
aA
nf
Spry
~ iy
YG
YY BA:
Es
a itl
“7
mn
rn
INN HT NUUaHnNa ty
ct & 5
Ee
Od :
52
SA
Pa
oy
Sot
BS
L
eS
ia
O
AY
v
ee
P
cS
£ ae
j
Sag
>
eeQou0
«
er
EUSTEPHANUS
TOOK CW,
CS,
oS Ula g
ath” ¥
OY ee ee
LPR Sos
iy).
ES
5
ae
y
STOKESI.
Came
“R Goqe
My
Hill
a FN aD ial RO eee 5 Z
SPN DIA PR PN PEA RCT
a
ENTE)
>)
EUSTEPHANUS STOKESI.
Stokes’ Humming Bird.
Trochilus Stokes, King in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. § Part I 30
Less. Les Troch., p. 135. pl. 50.—Jard. N oe OO eae
A. ] .—Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. i. p- 55.
Mellisuga Stokes, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 118, Mellisuga, sp. 94
Sephanoides stokesi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av :
Ne} , ay nsp. Gen. Av., p. 82, Sephanoides, sp. 2.—Ib. Consp. Troch. in
Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256.
Ug island of eeu Fernandez is the true and restricted habitat of this beautiful species, the honour of
discovering and ue gesonbiag which is due to Captain P. P. King, R.N., who, in dedicating it to his friend
the late Charles Stokes, Esq., was desirous of paying a just tribute of respect to one of the most accom-
plished men of science, art and literature that has graced society for many years.
Nothing has yet been recorded respecting this or the other Humming Birds inhabiting the island of Juan
Fernandez, the extent of which is considerably less than the Isle of Wight, but in which we are told there
are many lofty mountains, mterspersed with pleasant valleys, clothed with an abundant vegetation. It is in
these valleys, and among the shrubby trees close to the sea-shore, that this bird finds a congenial habitat.
Mr. Bridges, who has lately returned to Valparaiso, after a short sojourn in this almost tera incognita,
procured numerous examples, all of which, about thirty in number, have been sent to this country, and sub-
mitted to my inspection. Some of them are more richly coloured than others, but all have the metallic
green crown ; the question then arises, has the female this character as well as the male, or did Mr. Bridges
procure males only ? One of Captain King’s specimens, now in my possession, and which is apparently
adult, is destitute of the metallic crown, and has always been regarded by me as a female, but it would
seem that this is uncertain ; dissection alone then can determine the point.
The only figure of this bird that has yet appeared is the one given by Lesson on the fifth plate of his
“Trochilide,” and of this I would only remark, that a worse or more incorrect representation of it could
scarcely have been made.
Crown of the head metallic bluish green; all the upper surface and wing-coverts green with a bronzy
lustre; wings purplish brown, the spurious wing glossed with green; two central tail-feathers and the outer
webs of the three next on each side grass-green, the inner webs of these lateral feathers white; outer
feather white, edged with dusky brown, deepening into green at the tip of the outer web; under surface
white, with a spangle of shining green at the tip of each feather of the chin, throat and flanks, the spangles
being, in consequence of the smaller size of the feathers, most numerous on the chin and throat ; under tail-
coverts white with green centres.
The figures are of the natural size. The fern is the Dicksonia Berteroana, of Juan Fernandez
ENest SURE RN a a
4
ig
II
lil
3
gu
il
We
|
|
em 4
WAN UUUHHHI
PAUN ‘x
EKUSTEPHANUS FERNANDENSIS.
Cinnamon Fire Crown.
7 hochi Us ernan 270 32 3 Ka 12 m Pro f 5 I j S | 3)
] fk de Sts l I (, ©) j 1 :
ee Robinson, Less. Ois. Mou. V elins pl
ee,
Ornismya cinnamomea, Gerv. Mae. de Z,
. 4.—De Latt. et Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p- 18.
, . | n. of Birds, vol. i. p: Lis; Melhisuga, sp. 95.
Sephanoides fernandensis, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay }
Ay.,
Mellisuga Fernandensis, Gray and Mitch. Ge
mn p. 82, Sephanoides, sp. 3.—Ib. Cons
l'roch. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256. | onsp.
Faminrar as is the name of the island of Juan Fernande? er ita i
: andez to ey ery one, it 1s not, I believe, generally known,
| a n this isolated spot are three beautiful species of
Humming Birds, viz. Lustephanus Fernandensis, E. Stokesi, and E. galeritus; of these, the present bird is
the largest in size, and is moreover rendered peculiarly conspic
that almost the only feathered inhabitants which enliye
| mee il age tious, not only among its immediate con-
reners, but amidst the entire family, by the uniform cinn: ee :
g , é amily, by the uniform cinnamon hue of its plumage, relieved
alone by the
flame-coloured crown.
Captain P. P. King, R.N., was the first who brought specimens to Europe, and gave a name to the bird ;
consequently, the term /ernandensis, proposed by him, has the priority over those of eiznamomea and Robin-
son, bestowed by the French naturalists Gervais and Lesson.
From abont 1825, when Captain King procured his examples, up to the present time, 1854, no additional
specimens had been received; Mr. Bridges, however, has recently visited Juan Fernandez, and the result of
his explorations is the transmission of thirty fine specimens. These are all precisely alike; are we then to
conclude that they are all males, or, that both sexes, when adult, are alike in colour, and the female deco-
rated with the brilliant crown as well as the male? I have seen one specimen in which the brilliant crown
was absent, but I had no means of ascertaining whether this was a young male, or a female ; judging from
analogy, I should have supposed that the females were destitute of this ornament, and if so, all the specimens
sent by Mr. Bridges must be males.
Mr. Cuming informs me, that so fearless of man is this fine bird, that a gun is not necessary to procure
examples, as it approaches so close that it may be readily killed with a stick.
Forehead and crown metallic fiery red; the entire plumage of the body and the tail-feathers deep cinna-
mon-red ; wing-coverts the same, the lesser ones glossed with green and the greater passing into purple at
the tip; spurious wing green; primaries and secondaries purplish brown; vent buffy white ; bill black.
The figures represent the bird of the natural size, on the Thyrsopteris elegans of Kunze, a tree-fern of the
island of Juan Fernandez.
i
i)
“
a
OOmn'eS
BAA x
4 AC
er ay
Se | < "
20 Ia nO) e
2
f
ae
e Cy
> *
ie
MU
\
Se RE SS AL PNA RPG RS
PHAIOLAIMA RUBINOIDES.
Lilac-throat.
Trochilus rubinoides, Boure. et Muls. Ann. de la Soe. Sei. de Lyon, vol. ix. 1846 p. 322.
ee 8 nordes, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellimuga, op. 23)
Heliomaster rubinotdes, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., 1D. 10, eons, 7
Clytolema rubinoides, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p- 254.
Phaiolaima rubinoides, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 9.
| Own a close examination I find this species differs considerably both in form and colouring from the Clyto-
lema rubinea, with which it has hitherto been associated; I therefore adopt Dr. Reichenbach’s generic
appellation of Phatolaima for this and a nearly allied species from Ecuador. These two birds are rendered
very conspicuous among the Trochilide by the quiet and modest style of their colouring as compared with
the C. rubinea and other allied species. The tail, as will be seen, is very peculiarly coloured, but harmonizes
well both with the buff colouring of the under surface and the metallic pale-lilac-coloured throat-mark.
The Phavolaima rubinoides is by no means a common species ; and nothing, I regret to say, is known of its
habits, or the localities it frequents. It is a native of New Grenada, and individuals now and then occur in
collections from Bogota. The metallic throat-mark and brilliant crown are more developed in some specimens
than in others, and I have seen examples where both were almost absent; the birds in this state may be
females or young males of the year. Few examples in this condition have yet been sent to Europe.
| Face, line down the crown, and sides of the head luminous green; on the throat a patch of metallic lilac ;
| sides of the head and upper surface bronzy green, the bronzy hue predominating on the wing-coverts, lowe
part of the back and upper tail-coverts ; wings purplish brown, edged-on the a and outer quill with
deep buff; tail pure bronze, with deep buff shafts ; under surface buff, washed with green on the flanks.
The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Leha acuminata.
4 oO
q
ar —
ew CLUS sgt
Pe, 4 Oe,
ey NN & . YIU e YORBe LS
Sse Ne SA NAR PNAS 4/5) aN Sa
bs Ae XS / My 0 4 ere’ 4 \e
ON ANS EN x N WS oS ee
Woy Pay Oe hee
aU
ae
go
ee
Oo
PP iG
(+) Ss
se <3
PHAIOLAIMA MHQUATORIALIS, Gould.
Equatorial Lilac-throat.
Phaeolema rubinoides, Sclat. in Proc. Zool. Soe., part xxvii p. 145
equatorialis, Gould, Sclat. in Proc. Zool. Soc., part xxviii p. 70
I wave for many years been aware of th i Re Ae an : ae
. . ee : : . : e existence of a second species of Phaiolaima, M. Bourcier
ing pointed it out soon aiter his retur ° . “ : as oe ‘
having p atter his return from Ecuador, and assigned to me the privilege of giving it a
name, which I have neglected to do until the present year, 1860. Besides the examples procured in
Ecuador which grace M. Bourcier’s collection, I have received others from Quito, and I have three more
which were collected at Pallatanga by Mr. Fraser, from whose notes we learn that the bill is black, the
irides hazel, and the legs and feet dark flesh-colour. Ecuador, then, is evidently the true habitat of this fine
species—a species which is nearly allied to, but quite distinct from, the Phaiolaima rubinoides of Santa Fé de
Bogota. It is not only distinguished from its northern ally by its greater size, but also by the total absence
of any glittering feathers on the crown, which are always present in P. rubinoides ; the luminous lilac patch
on the throat, too, is not so extensive; neither is it so brilliant. A peculiar style of colouring pervades both
species, by which they are distinguished from all other Humming-Birds,—a character which cannot be
rendered very clear by description, but which is readily perceptible on reference to the plates in which they
are depicted; they have indeed a sombre-brown look quite peculiar to themselves.
The sexes probably do not differ in colouring. It is true that I have seen examples without the luminous
throat-mark, which might be supposed to be females; but as they offer no other difference in their colouring
or markings, I am induced to believe them to be young birds.
Crown of the head, face, sides of the neck, and chin pure green; on the centre of the throat a small patch
of pale metallic lilac ; all the upper surface bronzy green, the bronzy hue predominating on the wing- and
tail-coverts ; wings purplish brown, edged on the shoulders and outer primary with deep buff; tail pure
bronze with deep buff shafts ; under surface buff, washed with green on the flanks.
The figures are of the natural size. The Plant is Thibaudia Pichinchensis.
. i " ali) Ow
as SPINY NC oy eer 7 oN eT
3
my
2
IVCUNy UU}
!
.
<@
CIES)
ACI NE AS a ee 5
we FS ny 7 og
a oN
eR IPN AO : 3 57
ow 5
ONAL
yi ri
‘e:¢.<
+) .
ne
EIVENTRIS.
Coppery-bellied Puff-lee.
Trochilus cuprewentris, Fras. in Proc. Zool. Soe., Part viii. p. 40.
Ornismya vestita 9, Longuem., Less. in Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 314?
______. maniculata, Less. ?
Hylocharis cupreoventris, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 3.
Eriopus cupreiventris, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p- 80, Eriopus, sp. at
Tue great beauty of the Eriocnemis cupreiventris, and the large size of the white tufts clothing its legs, ren-
dering it a very conspicuous object, it is much sought after by collectors; and, judging from the great
number of specimens sent to Europe from Santa Fé de Bogota, it would seem to be one of the most
abundant of the Humming-birds inhabiting that country.
It evinces a preference for the temperate regions lying at an elevation of from six to nine thousand feet,
and appears never to visit the colder districts above or the warmer valleys below. From the circumstance
of no examples occurring in collections from any other part of South America than Columbia, it would seem
that its range is of limited extent.
The sexes are very much alike, and both have the white muff-like decoration on the leg, but it is not so
much developed in the female as in the male; the young is also very similar, but differs in having the throat
dull brownish black instead of luminous green.
The male has the crown of the head, sides of the neck, back and wing-coverts bronzy green, passing into
bright shining green on the upper tail-coverts ; wings purplish brown; tail purplish black; throat ee
ae ; y assing 1 ich copper é n; leg-ruffs snow-white ;
green ; under surface golden green, passing into a rich coppery hue on the abdomen ; leg ;
under tail-coverts rich shining lazuline blue; bill black ; feet brown.
The figures are of the size of life.
a i . ) ro @ B yN
; 7X p. i) om IN TN OW AO
ae
Noo
re 7 i
AS ON NS
i
i
Ne
= APR NPN AP ENE EN SPN
ERIOCNEMIS SIMPLEX, Gould.
Olive-coloured Puffle.
Eriopus simplex, Gould in Proe. of Zool. Soc., 1849 Deon
9
Tux single specimen of this bird forming part of the collection of Edward Wilson, Esq., is the only one that
has yet been sent to Europe. It was received direct from Santa Fé de Bogota, accompanied by other new
and Pare species, which induces a belief that it had been procured in some district not previously visited by
collectors. Mr. Wilson, with his usual liberality, kindly lent me the specimen for the purpose of describing
and figuring it, if requisite. During the three years it has been in my possession, I have frequently
Peomined and carefully compared it with Erzocnemis cupreiventris, under the impression that it might
possibly be merely a singular variety of that bird, but I have always returned to my original opinion, that it
is a Aietinet species, and have therefore figured it as such on the accompanying Plate.
The colouring of the entire body is a nearly uniform dark olive-green, with a rufous tinge on the
upper surface ; the crown of the head and back of the neck tinted vi pomples tne rump antl upper iy
coverts a very little brighter than the back; on the throat, a patch of scale-like feathers of a more glossy
green than the other part of the under surface; wings purplish pone tail black with purplish a
anya and tarsi thickly clothed with snow-white plumes, presenting a strong contrast to the dark colourmg
of the body; under tail-coverts dull bluish purple ; bill ame feet black. oe
The figures are of the natural size; the Cactus is a species common on the Columbian Andes.
Seieniee on 7 CI OS Ye -- Bloat... CALA
‘c ‘. w_(e,. fi) Fa a
“ r ar i
i
4 x
y
NE ANS
x Fe Ne rs eS ~
¥ .
~ 7, AN
SN Oe "dda ed
° °
“Ars
oy”
i)
. : a st
‘alam c< ye
cS
wo
oes
OO & &,
ERIOCNEMIS ISAACSONI.
Long-billed Puff-leg.
rnysmia Isaacsoni, Parz , )
Orny onn, Parz. Rey. Zool. 1845, Dp: Joe
Hylocharis Isaacsom, Gray and Mi
saa ), Gray a itch. Ge rds, vol. i .
: ’ en. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylochari
Eriopus isaacsom, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av 3 ee
I 1. Av., p. 80, Eriopus pee
riocnemys isaacsoni ‘ 7 F,
Eriocnemys isaacsoni, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, pe cae
Phemonoé Isaacsoni, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, peg
8, sp. 9.
nt ne hi el Ha hin fe
mcobecy . aris in a large collection of birds from Santa Fé de Bogota, in examining
which, it did not escape the discriminating eye of that well-known naturalist. It subsequently passed imo
the hands of the late Earl of Derby, and now forms part of the great Collection at Liverpool. It received
its specific appellation from M. Parzudaki, and I quite agree with him in considering it distinct from every
other known member of the genus. Its nearest ally is the /. cupreiventris, from which, however, it differs
in its much longer bill, in the more coppery hue of its upper surface, and in the green colouring of its
under tail-coverts. Although received direct from Bogota, that locality is doubtless not its true habitat, for
if it were, we should certainly have received other examples during the thirteen years which have elapsed
since it was first characterized.
My thanks are due to the Trustees of the Derby Museum, for the loan of their unique specimen for the
purpose of examination, and permission to figure it in the present work.
Head and back dull greenish bronze; upper tail-coverts purplish ; throat shining green, passing into rich
golden bronze on the sides of the neck, abdomen and flanks; wings purplish brown ; tail brownish black ;
under tail-coverts shining green; thighs clothed with white down-like feathers.
The figures are of the natural size.
a "A: Z a
es ICO ROW OR ee a Oe NE IES As . ai
5
|
IN MUIHIN
4
3
eh 1
uy
2
|
= : = _ - — an z Ph rr tk sec SEY ae ot a
—= = ee 5 3 : ; ; “SS Se
$ : : : . 5
. PS Ns Fe x
= SF RS a On WS REN en NORE FE
BA EEN RNA PAN BN Ae eae ie “ N74 RA Bs CaN 2
. taal oe Von s\ oon
Oe, oe
b VAG
- Po
re
awry en
: ~ . .
oe J se
cs
O64 S40.¢0
Py A
C
a tS
Pj rawr.
4%
eS
yw)
ERIOCNEMIS LUCIANL
Buquet’s Puff-lee.
Trochilus Luciani, Boure. Ann. Sci. et Phys. de Lyon, 1847, p. 624
Hylocharis Luciani, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of iB, WO, te, jd, Wa! Te sp. 4
Eriopus luciani, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., me0en ae oa , 5 , Sp. 4.
T. (Eriopus) luciani, Jard. Cont. to Orn., 1850 2
Ox)
roe
o
Ps
A
v
5
FF eR
aed Dm
sh
be FN
; ears, ik : a i. .
Tuts species was originally characterized by M. Bourcier in 1847, from
a single specimen procured b
ae x ees : 5 ] y
M. De Lattre near the village of Guaca in the Republic of Ecuador.
Xe 0 p
oo : Te Since that period the bird has become
common in -ollections, many snecimens havine
olerably our collections, many specimens having been obtained by
5
| o. ; ee M. Bourcier during his late
sojourn in that country. For the exa 8 ained in Sir Willi ardine’ | i ’
j y amples contained in Sir William Jardine’s collection and in my own, we
are indebted to Professor Jameson of Quito, who states that the bird is very common on the western side
of Pichincha, at an elevation of from ten to twelve thousand feet.
fa hl ee ray Seeeel ae
The sexes of 4. Luciani, like those of E. Mosquera and E. cupreiventris, are so similar as scarcely to be
distinguished by their colouring ; both have the white ruffs, but as usual these ornaments are less developed
in the female.
ie
The young birds of the first year may be distinguished by the green hue of the throat being
entirely absent, that part being clothed by feathers of a nearly uniform blackish brown, without any metallic
brilliancy ; as the bird advances in age, a line of luminous green feathers extends down the middle of the
throat. On the forehead of some adults a brilliant bluish green mark is found, while in others it is totally
absent: probably this difference is due to the more or less approach to maturity.
M. Bourcier has named this species Luciani, in honour of M. Lucien Buquet, one of the most distin-
guished entomologists of France.
Ay ES mel
ry .
Forehead shining bluish green; crown of the head, upper surface, upper and under wing-coverts bronzy
green, passing into shining green on the upper tail-coverts; wings purplish brown ; tail purplish black ; all
the under surface lustrous golden green; under tail-coverts rich blue; thigh-ruffs snow-white ; bill black ;
feet brown.
The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life.
co
oe
=
re
Sy
h 2
Sow
es
3%
.
= ier to od
y
oot
ses
: se
III
g
|
|
il
4
3
2
NUTT
om 4
Uq HHI
x
U) CEM MAY) Cee Vid OU VAIL we Ves INS SO) \©)
~ : NE te BS: St Neg :
wh i AX Fs Ps % 4 5 AN, EAS me’ By"
ee Wo ee SN POO Oe EN ee
WF) NH, “se
DA Fi
EKRIOCNEMIS MOSQUERA.
Mosquera’s Puff-lee,
Trochilus Mosquera, Boure. et De Latt. Rev. Zool. 1846 p- 306
Hylocharis mosquera, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. j Pp 14 Hylochari )
: “1p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 5.
{ 7 MOoSGuera ~ > ee .
Eriopus mosquera, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 80, Eriopus, sp. 5.
Iv is only of late years that any species ¢ Foueea alee ee . :
ae : a. ) oe y species of this singular genus has been discovered ; only in fact since the
ngher Andes have been visite , Kur , ve : : ae :
hi a ; L oF " ed by uropean collectors, and their attention called to the rich productions
which there abound. For the discover > present bird we are j
Me | New overy of the present bird we are indebted to M. De Lattre, who procured
it at Pasto i New Grenada, and who in conjuncti 7 oa Pe 5 : .
; @ ¢ ee o é Bs ( Aue m conjunction with his friend M. Bourcier named it Mosquera, in
ur of Genera squera, Preside euRenuhicin iN ee fy ee eae
1onour ¢ ae OSaeta resident of the Republic of New Grenada, a distinguished patron of science
and natural history.
PT S17 y ’ RG 1 ar a Tergu . = 5 S =
In its rich golden collouies it differs from every other species of the group to which it belongs, and _parti-
cularly from 17. Luciani and L. cupreientris, but at the same time it is more intimately allied to those species
than to any others.
After examining numerous specimens of both sexes, I find but little difference in their colouring; as
MM. Bourcier and De Lattre state, the female has a somewhat darker tail and the ruffs on the legs less
developed.
General plumage golden green, becoming of a purer green on the wing-coverts, back and rump, and
passing again into luminous golden green on the extremities of the tail-coverts; wings purplish brown ;
four central tail-feathers green; the next on each side olive on the inner web, green on the outer, the next
olive, with a wash of green along the outer web and at the tip; the outer one olive, with a tinge of green at
the tip only ; under surface golden, becoming very bright on the throat and passing into green on the centre
of the abdomen ; under tail-coverts green; thighs thickly clothed with white down; bill blackish brown ;
under mandible lighter than the upper, or inclining to flesh-colour ; feet dark brown.
The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life.
cere Sa ee, CM OW MOR RIA NC EO ee A= Be (eX (Qe. sa
4
’
my
Peal
ITT{UII
2
II
IN|
&
hy
ERIOCNEMIS VESTITUS.
Glowing Puff-lee.
Ormsmya vestita, Longuem. Rey.
p- 18, and 1840, Deo:
Trochilus wropygialis, Fras. in Proc. of Zool. Soc t viti
: : -» part vin. p. 15
Ornismya glomata, Less. Echo du Monde Sava : Rk
vant.
Aylockaris vestita, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. LL, Hylochari
Eriopus vestita, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay p. 80, B aes , Hylocharis, sp. 2
Eriocnemis vestita, Reich. Auf. der Col ey
Zool. 18
285) oil =Wen inate Boure. Rey. Zool. 1839,
riopus, Spaule
Eriocnemys vestitus, Bonap. Rey 5
5 ap. Rey. Zool. 1854, p. 252
Ir is to be regretted that s Sate eae
pre at some more appropriate term than veséztus had not been selected as if
designation of this wonderful hi os n selected as the specific
sig s wonderful little bird—I say wonderful advisedly; fo ho. f
; —. > . : a adv ;; for every one who, for the first time
finds himself in front of the compar i : i : ; Cee ee
s irtment in my collection i i i ;
1 1A 1
ee ati coe : *y on in which this species is placed, gives utterance
to some exclamation expressive of the admiration excited by i iki =
plendour af its upper tail ee xcited by its striking beauty and the glow-worm like
sple S + tail-coverts. is brillianey i re P a
- oat aii lancy Is more apparent at certain hours of the day ; for
instance, it is more beautiful in the evening after sunset than at mid-de ne : :
trikingly contrasted and relieved by the d 1 an at mid-day, the brilliancy bemg then more
str y ; rasted and relieved by the dark i » tail-fe : F , :
$1) ie Eten hone : :
oe : es ) ‘ s e of the tail-feathers. It is unquestionably one of the finest
species s genus, and one of the most resplende : TTI : x : ,
I Ae - 3 2 ma | splendent of the Zrochiide : would that it were possible for me
even faintly to depict it! but no, the most finishe rAWINo CE : 56 Le
a y ‘I ‘ : 3 finished drawing can be but a phantom of the original, and it 1s
only by an examination of specimens that my readers cé ‘ : : =
| ) E ee 2 | | at my readers can form any adequate idea of the splendour and
neauty of this gem; and how much more gorgeous must the bird appear in 1 . .
gue) g . ich more gorgeous must the bird appear in its native wilds! But a short
period has elapsed since we first became aware of the existence of this lovely bird; twenty-five years ago it
was totally unknown; during the quarter of a century ending with 1859 it has, however, become extremely
common, so much so, indeed, that no collection need be without the richest examples: its market value is
very small, and thousands upon thousands have already found their way to Europe. Its native country is
Columbia, and it is nowhere more abundant than in the neighbour San 4 rota: it is withi
ehbourhood of Santa Fe de Bogota: 1t 1s within
an area of 100 miles from this place that not only this, but a host of other species of Humming-birds have
been procured. Its large snow-white boots must render the bird a very conspicuous object both when
flying and when at rest, for it surely cannot conceal these lengthened tufts of feathers even if so disposed.
The female is not so gorgeously attired as the male, neither are her leg-tufts so conspicuous ; still she is far
from being destitute of beauty.
The male has the head, throat, neck, upper part of the back, and wing-coverts deep bronzy green ; centre
of the back purer green; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts yellowish green, of the most intense
metallic brilliancy ; wings purplish brown ; tail bluish black ; a circular spot on the chin and under tail-coverts
deep rich metallic blue; abdomen and flanks glittering golden green ; thighs thickly clothed with white
downy feathers ; bill black ; feet brown.
On looking at the bird in front, the head and ne
position, those parts are found to be of the colour described.
The female has a similar distribution of colour, but the hues are altogether less brilliant ; the central
tail-feathers are green instead of bluish black ; the upper tail-coverts are not so much developed; there is
only an ‘ndication of the blue spot on the throat ; the under surface assumes a rusty tint, and the feathers
d with the brilliant hue so conspicuous in the male; and the blue under tail-
ck appear to be of a deep black; but on changing the
are merely tipped, or spangle
feathers are less developed.
The Plate represents two males The plant is the Echinopsis crestata.
and a female of the natural size.
: l i Mo Sa Ak aA Sap) ‘& \
paw l 2 3 £ ¢ A s Q ha » LT RE aT pe
i a te * eho Aw ics eZ LE low.e ron 196 i! Pd TANS eS h ron AS OW, AO = Bat Tem
{i
i
)
i
OWES AY
Sy
I,
* Fx A ee
Lae gy?
Lea
Oy) Se, eh) SS,
Ne
TS
ve
Bao
2,
oN
VA sy
9
‘
»
Ke
I Se) Oe
iy >
Hultrnanded & Walton FPrp
\\\\|
5
4
Vy
3
nu
|
iit
2
UNCUT}
em j
\|
|
&
SD oANPo
Wid Wet
ERIOCNEMIS NIGRIVESTIS.
Black-breasted Puff-leg.
Trochit > nV7)neEtIe
[rochilus ngrwestis, Boure. et M
t ; . et Muls. Ann. de i
BE vo son a Ann. de la Soe. Sei. de Lyon, 1852
ry snemys nigriwvestis onap. hey hao Y 5
| gee B a . et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Eriocnemis mgriventris, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col p.9
Deo
? vestingra, Verr. MS. ?
» p-
ONE oO ; he g2reates en] JY 7 5 x 1e ft ft St S t eS t > S erto
NE f f ‘ t St JOY ments experie need by h 2 c C I 1
> Jv a the na uralis , 1S S C x °] i hi
untrodden by the scientific man, wher
i , ere, ever and anon ] is preser : : 5
Pen es ccen : under ; : ; anon, an object is presented to his notice which has never
elore been seen ; under such circumstances time passes quickl | ind 4
ee excitement to £ Tan * passes quickly—the mind is at ease, or merely tempered with
S nt excitement to favour good health and an exuber * spiri :
é xu ee : ‘
Wc crsunications ond caliece é berance of spirits; and second only to this pleasure is
‘ 5 s¢ Sand collections tr rres S] i :
ee. a rom correspondents in far distant countries. In one of the
jumerous ers received from my friend Professor Jameson, of Quito, a gentleman who has so largely
i. » . r 7 » wey M » € a = fe S : 2
contributed to our knowledge of the natural productions of the primeval forests of Ecuador, occurs the fol-
ano pnassace: COUT Acer 18 : She rt : . . ° :
lowing passage : There is one species of Humming-bird which I am particularly desirous of procuring for
= S + « =, © 5 € fs » yy » ‘ 2 a
you. It is an inhabitant of the upper boundary of the forest, and is as black as charcoal, with white boots.
Should I have the good luck to obtain a specimen, it shall be immediately sent off to your address.” Feeling
assured that such a bird was new to science, I replied immediately . .
é 7 . é ae as new to science, I replied immediately, urgently pressing my friend to procure
and forward it ; and at length the subject of the present Plate was transmitted to me. On examination it did
ite V0ree 1 Jeanfacenr ‘ AG . C . > Siig ® e
not quite agree with Professor Jameson’s description, but it is doubtless the bird he referred to, as it would
appear coal-black when flying at a distance. M. Bourcier of Paris, however, had the gratification of first
receiving the species through another channel, and from another part of the country, the environs of Tumbaro.
By this gentleman it was named nigrivestis, “ dressed in black.” It is in every respect a typical member of
the genus, and is most nearly allied to H. vestita.
The general plumage of the male is black, with green reflexions, relieved on the throat by a patch of deep
blue, bordered in some instances with minute glittering green feathers ; lower part of the back inclining to
deep grass-green ; wings blackish purple ; upper tail-coverts dull indigo-blue; tail deep bluish black; under
tail-coverts lazuline blue ; legs clothed with white down-like feathers ; bill black.
The general plumage of the female is greenish bronze, becoming of a purer and more shining green on
the upper tail-coverts and lower part of the abdomen ; wings, tail and under tail-coverts as in the male ;
breast coppery green, with a patch of greenish blue on the throat; from the angle of the bill a small
moustache of buffy white.
Through the kindness of Professor Jameson, I am enabled to figure both sexes, of the natural size, on one
of the fine Orchids of the country, the dnguloa uniflora.
SSE SISO IIE
— SET Oi Se ee Wors
' : ea i aie fe ye Sint EOLA Neale TOM tN TOW ae
S FIZ I ORI ed IN Bee
oe
Y Wn ae
¢
So
CC
Vas
Sy gY ’ ,
: i Cae! : : 4 ey, ‘
Was dese wae oe CouN
are
SPER RE Kh yy
ra p i, « Neb oe
ERIOCNEMIS GODINI.
Godin’s Puff-leg.
Trochilus Godin, Boure. Compt. Rend. de l’Acad. des Sci., tom. xxxii. p. 186
Erioenemys godin, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854 p- 252 XX. p. :
aa x
Eriocnems Godini, Reich. Auf. der Col; p. 9.——=Ib. ‘Troch. Enum eG
: "9 . .
mm : : :
Tuts species, alinougs in every sone a true Eriocnemis, differs widely from all the other members of the
genus : In size it re oe LE. vestitus, and moreover differs from that species in its longer and more decidedly
forked fel and in the luminous feathers of the lower part of the back being of a more grassy and much
i brilliant green ; the tole of the under surface of the E. Godini, too, is of a rich glittering bronzy green,
with the bronzy hue predominating and becoming still more coppery on the abdomen; the green of the
throat also is interrupted by a small patch of blue, whichI suspect is more conspicuous in some specimens
than in the one from which my figure was taken.
The native country of the Erzocnemis Godini is Ecuador, where it was procured by M. Bourcier, to whom
I am indebted for the loan of his type specimen for the purpose of figuring it in the present work. It will
be seen that this is only one of many instances in which I have had to record my obligations to this
gentleman for the liberality with which he has seconded my efforts towards the elucidation of the natural
history of this lovely group of birds.
Head, upper part of the back, and wing-coverts bronzy green ; lower part of the back and upper tail-
coverts shining grass-green ; wings purplish brown ; tail black with steel-blue reflexions ; throat and upper
surface bronzy green, gradually deepening into rich bronze on the abdomen; on the centre of the throat a
small patch of blue; tarsi thickly clothed with white feathers ; under tail-coverts fine blue; bill black; feet
blackish brown.
The female is at present unknown.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Vriesea psittacina, var. rubro-bracteata.
PRBS
ra ae >
FN EN:
o< ays ON
Ne |
ee
aon Ne
rs
e VAC. +
A
ena
Io)
nui
+ 5
I
nN
q| 3
I
cm
nny
eA).
\||
s
Pw r wa oo 7 . ‘ : N ' { > Ly ‘ $ Py
? eo : , “ v : s
te AN a ‘
A
(ey om Wok WIN 5 . i . a = . ~ ial rae i% 7 alZra": re aN
Ce
Ney a rN E47
Bt 7
eT ey — ———
ERIOCNEMIS D’ORBIGNYI.
D’Orbigny’s Puff-leg.
Trochilus D’Orbignyi, Boure. et Muls. in Ann. Soc. Sci. de Lyon, 1846, p. 315
Phemonoe D’ Orbignyi, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col., Der
driocnemis D’ Orbignyi, Reichenb. Troch. Enum., p. 6, pl. 741. fig. 4697.
Lriocnemys orbignyi, Bonap. in Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Hylocharis D’ Orbignyi, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 10.
A SINGLE specimen (apparently an adult male) of this bird graces the collection in the Museum of the Jardin
des Plantes, at Paris. This individual was, I believe, brought to Europe by M. D’Orbigny, and was
procured either in Peru or Bolivia. The Eriocnemis D’ Orbignyi differs from all the other species of the
genus I have yet seen, in the possession of a blue frontlet; in size it is very similar to ZZ. vestita, from
which, however, as well as from all the others, it differs in several well-marked specific particulars.
The unique specimen contained in the Paris Museum serves to show how little acquainted we are with
the Humming-Birds of the countries to the southward of Ecuador.
many species as yet unknown, there seems to be but little doubt.
The following is a description of this bird taken from the Paris specimen :—
That both Peru and Bolivia possess
Forehead violet blue; all the upper surface uniform bronzy grass-green; throat and under surface
glittering golden green, inclining to blue on the centre of the throat and chest; tail steel or bluish black.
The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Howardia Caracasensis.
RAEN RNS
PE
i
IN
YES So
* OAC e A
£:
oe Es
iS)
* gs 2 op + SAF o
PO
— — -
oe takmrar
e 5
ae
Hd tes =
a "
Ho
o
we a ©
YD Go*
Se
ry
a) a OAG «
ee -@ se
ay
Cre eee)
AB
roe! SR a ey a
4 by
4 fi
ro >
ie Y oN te oe Oe
ne
Ae ie : re
RI ZS- oe
‘
| TD
RTOC \I DIRT Tt .
land or dd eb - Ay \) RAC IO At \. \\
os = litdbnandd £Wakttov Lng
LLIN ee ee
" | 1| 2 4 5
Ra) 7 oy
Dee: Sas SH YS SRE Ne i
“BN, ON RN AEN SOS RN OR PL PC OR oe Oe ore ae
SEM RIM ANB AS MASSES RNAS SN ES
242 =» @4 OAS. «
5 *
Cy
ERIOCNEMIS DERBIANUS.
Derby’s Puff-lee.
Trochilus Derbyi, De Latt. et Boure. Rey. Zool. 1846, p. 306
Yriopus Derbyi, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., part xv. . 17 :
—.— derby, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 80, Eriopus, = a
Eriocnemys derbyanus, Bonap. Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854 p- 269
Threptia Derbyi, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, pao: | |
aera » § r > nas Cal xy Tn ae
rhe ay of a lo i al he ce ad hr
me j a : end to throw some light on what may or may not be termed
species, 1 thats there can ce little doubt. The various members of the genera Oreotrochilus, Oxypogon and
mE eTniaTon live al elevations varying from 10,000 to 16,000 feet, and are confined to such limited areas,
that a oe pone like that of Chimborazo or Cotopaxi is the extent of their range; on the other hand,
many of the extinct volcanos have species peculiar to the shrubby regions on their inner sides. Surely
such facts as these are worthy of a greater share of the attention of philosophers than has hitherto been
devoted to them. The bird figured on the accompanying Plate serves well to illustrate the foregoing
passage, for up to the present time it is only known to inhabit the extinct volcano of Puracé, share
it was discovered by the late M. De Lattre during his travels in the little-trodden countries of New
Grenada. 4
The Eriocnemis Derbianus is a species which differs very remarkably from every other member of the
genus, both in the coal-black colouring of its feathered legs and in the brilliant metallic golden green of
its upper and under tail-coverts. No other traveller but De Lattre has, I believe, obtained examples of this
bird; by him, however, at least forty of both sexes were procured, all of which realized very high prices.
These examples were so precisely alike both in colour and markings that they scarcely presented a shade
of difference.
In the year 1846, MM. De Lattre and Bourcier named this species in honour of the late Earl of Derby, as
a just tribute of respect to that distinguished nobleman, whose life was certainly not rendered less happy by
his study of the branch of natural science to which he was so much attached.
The male has a wash of green on the forehead; the head, all the upper surface and wing-coverts of a
golden bronzy hue ; all the under surface shining golden green ; wings purplish brown; upper and under
tail-coverts brilliant metallic green; tail, feathers of the tarsi, and bill black.
The female has a wash of green on the forehead; all the upper surface golden bronze ; under surface
similar in hue, but lighter and more brilliant ; upper and under tail-coverts metallic golden green; wings
purplish brown ; tail black ; feathers of the tarsi black towards the knee and greyish white near the feet.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the size of life on the Mawillaria leptosepala.
{HHI
iii
\\|
|
3
il
HNNtt
ANVTKYUNNNSTTAL)
ey OCS. erg S
VB ine VOUS AS
~ fl ae
I> Oe rS oN Gt alae
war: re
» ART . a.
ee A OS PY 2 a"
5 wey oe ae CAC e “9
P.O 5
Los
Cy
ERIOCNEMIS ALIN A.
Metallic Puff-lee.
Ornismyia Aline, Boure. Rey. Zool. 1842 p. 373
Ormsmya Aline, Ib. Ann. Sci. Phys. &e. de tee 1842, p. 344. pl. 19
> ays 5 : eee 2 a> pp. | Nte :
a eens Alii Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114 i locharis, sp. 6
Eriopus aline, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p- 80, Eriopus, sp. 6 ie
Engyete Aline, Reich. Auf. der Col., p. 9. oe:
Eriocnemys alina, Bonap. Rev. Zool. 1854 p- 252
. » P. ADA,
No one species of the well ;
s -defined genus Ey Ss 1S mor autifi ‘
g zocnemis 18 more beautifully plumaged than the fully adult male
of ae little Bird, neither is there any one of them that has the peculiar puff-like decoration of the legs
carried to so great an extent; no Bee ever hurried towards its hive with leos mor . load eae
turned a more glittering breast towards the light, tl ‘ : ae z oe ae Oe poe oe
Mie Having <0 Rear eae = ae pees. ae Se being one mass of green nctiallhe
M. Bourcier, when introducing it to the notice of ae fe a i a ae oe ee
Wo Faia. ana Se ices ate anes , ae £ world, s nonld have given it that of Aline, in
gives great pleasure to assist in perpetuating the name of a lady to whom
such an act of courtesy has been rendered.
ae cee having been said about the beauty of the bird and its name, my next duty would be, were it
possible, to give some account of its habits and economy; but on these points nothing is known, and I am
merely able to state that it is a native of the rich district in the neighbourhood On Santa Fé de Bogota,
whence nearly all the specimens sent to Europe have been forwarded. Although by no means a scarce bird,
it is far less common than the EL. cupreiventris and E. vestitus. There seems to be less difference in the
colouring of the sexes of this species than in either of the others; but I observe that there is considerable
diversity in the amount of the metallic colouring in individuals of the same sex, and I think it not unlikely
that the bird attains a considerable age, and a high state of health and vigour, before it acquires the
excessively glittering metallic hues seen in some specimens. It is somewhat singular that some of these
very fine males exhibit a white or broken appearance in the centre of the chest, a mark which I believe to be
perfectly natural ; again, this bird, when fully adult, independently of its glittering breast, has a narrow well-
defined band of the same colour across the forehead, immediately behind the bill, in which respect it differs
from all the other members of its genus, and which probably induced Dr. Reichenbach to propose for it a
new generic name—a name, however, I have not found it desirable to adopt, believing as I do that the
feature indicated does not amount to more than specific importance.
Head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts and tail deep green, the upper tail-coverts and tail being some-
what brighter than the other parts ; wings dark purplish brown; line across the forehead, and all the under
surface, including the under tail-coverts, rich metallic glittering green ; legs thickly clothed with downy
white feathers ; bill black ; legs brown.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size.
: SEIS TSE SIGS
Nes AG ow A EN oO} NO Od IN WN Mo
2
OBIE
>< >, 3k Be Be a7 iy iF Sys Ss Joes SaeN ay
Sy iene yt aN of yy eS ES @: hee > ’ or é ND Ak ee Ss as eS. SN
ee
——— ee
7 = rs Pry aC eae 2 a ii aie
NP ND mA a FA gr PRS We Ry *
wom
ERIOCNEMIS SQUAMATA, Goud.
Scaly Puff-lee:.
Erioenemis squamata, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc., part xxviii. p. 311
Ir is a question which can only be determined by time and the acquisition of a greater number of specimens
than I now possess, whether the bird here represented be or be not identical with the Eriocnemis lugens.
At present this appears to be somewhat uncertain ; but my own opinion is that it will ultimately prove to
be a distinct species. Of both these birds my collection contains all the examples I have ever seen;
these comprise at least four specimens of the . dugens, and two of FE. squamata. They were all received
from Ecuador, but were collected in very different localities; I have therefore very little doubt of their
being distinct; and if so, they, together with a third species (Z. Aurelie), will constitute a small sub-
division among the Eriocnemedes. All three birds are clothed in a very sombre-coloured livery ; two of them
(namely, L. sguamata and . Aurehe) ave parti-coloured boots, while the Z. dugens has its lees clothed with
white. A glance at the Plates representing these three species will give a better idea of the differences
they present than the most minute description.
Many years have now elapsed since I received, direct from Professor Jameson of Quito, the examples I
possess of H. lugens; but it was not until very lately (just previous to the close of the present work) that
the LE. squamata came to hand. Independently of its parti-coloured boots, the latter bird differs from both
its congeners in its far greater size; it is, in fact, a more robust bird than either of them.
Crown of the head, back of the neck, upper surface, sides of the neck and flanks coppery bronze, inclining
to green on the back and to rust-colour on the upper tail-coverts ; throat, chest, and centre of the abdomen
hoary grey with green and coppery reflexions; in certain lights the feathers of the throat and chest appear
to be edged with grey, giving those parts a scaled appearance—hence the specific name ; under tail-coverts
smoky grey ; anterior portion of the feathers clothing the tarsi white, the posterior portion buff; tail dull
steel-black ; wings purplish brown ; bill black.
The figures are of the natural size.
- ar TI St EY OS FG M 4, ee AS ae
~ a ep! Oe". £ X PG Si”. tC Lex WA MaS iN aN Vt Nt ENS
: re Oe: a Boe Be Sy | é re ah ar wy fer? Co . ,
Nee 3 CSS SN BS ah Pye
at
ae
HIRT N it MTS eal [ N WY GY > 1 7
C4 TRIN \ \ —o) LA WICZIN SS 4 GOL,
Téculd and HC Richter, da idtinanadd & Walten Tp
/
a MITT NITY
TNL
O48. Ae
on th:
Siar an a
ER LOCNEMIS LUGENS, Gould.
Hoary Puff-leg.
Eriopus lugens, Gould in Jard. Cont. to Orn. for 1851, p. 140.
Eriocnemys lugens, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et Mag
. de Zool. 1854, p- 252.
I received my first specimen of this new bird through the kindness of Professor Jameson of Quito, who
collected it at a considerable elevation on the western side of Pichincha; a second and very similar
example I procured of M. Parzudaki of Paris, and these are all that I have yet seen.
The Hoary Puff-leg is a true Ertocnemis in every respect, and is somewhat allied to LZ. cupreoventris and
E. simplex. 1am unable to say whether the specimens I possess are of opposite sexes or not, but, judging
from analogy, I suspect that no difference occurs in the outward appearance of the males and females.
From the sombre colouring, and the dense and lax plumage of this species, it would appear to be adapted
8 I 8 I PI I
for cold and elevated regions.
Crown of the head, back, shoulders and upper tail-coverts bronzy green, slightly tinged on the latter
with rufous; throat, abdomen and under tail-coverts hoary black, with a tinge of green on the flanks, and a
narrow fringe of white on each of the feathers of the throat and chest, giving those parts a scaly appear-
ance ; wings purplish black ; tail bluish black; feathers of the thighs white, and lengthened so as to form
a puff; ont of the tarsi and toes purplish black, yellowish beneath ; bill black, with a yellowish tint on the
base of the lower mandible.
The figures are the size of life.
[Tip
Walton
TIidllmande d
Sar ra as ou Nice . ay re F AO ae ae RY ay Ce
" > . . «= i Sw
NAD eUNA RANE Se NE! :
ERIOCNEMIS AURELIA.
Aurelia’s Puff-lee:.
Trochilus Aurelie, Bourc. et Muls. Ann. de la Soc. des Sci. &e. de L
numbered.—Ib. Rey. Zool. 1846, p. 316.
Hylocharis Aurelia, Gray and Mitch.
yon, 1846, p. 315, pl. not
y | Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 8.
Eriopus aureliae, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p- 80, Eriopus sp. 8
Eriocnemys aurelia, Tb. Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854. p. 252
Erwcnemis Aureliae, Reichenb. Autz. der Colibris, eae
By far the greater number of the
Species of this well-defined genus have the puff-like feathers clothing the
legs of a snowy whiteness; in one, however, the Z. Derbyanus, they are bl
consideration they are parti-coloured, or brown and white.
I have seen examples of this species from various parts of the hilly districts of Columbia, over which
country 1t appears to enjoy a wide range, and where it has been killed by M. Warszewicz and other collectors.
Specimens from the neighbourhood of the River Napo have longer bills, and are altogether larger birds
than those from Bogota ; so great a similarity, however, otherwise exists between them, that, for fe present,
I shall consider them as merely distinct races or local varieties of one and the same species.
The Eriocnemis Aurehe was first described by MM. Bourcier and Mulsant, from Bogota specimens, and
I also figure a bird from the same district. ‘These gentlemen state that they have named it Aurelie in
honour of the wife of M. Hénon, Secretary-General of the Society of Agriculture, and one of the most
distinguished naturalists of the City of Lyons.
ack ; and in the bird now under
But little difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes; the female, however, has the puff-like feathers
of the legs of a smaller size, and whiter or less parti-coloured than those of the male ; and the young has
the lower part of the abdomen white.
Head, upper surface and wing-coverts dark bronzy green, the green hue predominating on the centre
of the back, and a tinge of rufous on the head; wings purplish brown; upper tail-coverts dark coppery
bronze; tail dark bluish black, with a bronzy lustre at the base; under surface bronzy green, very dark on
the throat, and becoming gradually paler towards the vent, where the feathers are fringed with white ;
feathers of the thighs pale chestnut and white; under tail-coverts grass-green ; bill brown, paler at the base
of the under mandible.
The young bird of the first year has the head and neck coppery bronze; upper surface green; throat
violaceous brown ; lower part of the abdomen white; and the under tail-coverts grey, with a trace only of
the green of the adult state.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Marsdenta maculata.
i NOAA KON BIEN CEG AN Ot a
x Ave ac) ud! Q ek he
whe fi
a
* O40
Bu Bi
wen
ox
TS = =
ee
|
é
ie te
ce
gt
ee
yO
&
ae
eC
ars ro
ahs
~W --.! o)
o
»_ VAS
ae
Zp cs
er
~
ew
Ale
a CVS er
&
S
~ et AN tot
rs
S
”
a er
A A
ee I ATATS
cS
Fr Car) Cy)
d5
4 o a RS 4
ae
ae! 5
ie ZN ae ove Ors
fy 5
1DZR BAND y Bea roe:
ASE NIDS BANEANS
9 ONS at
WsPa
aaa
ay i i( iP
BS
ova
2
ae)
*
was
ava <«
na r r
ae
.
op
Ce
= ath
a (Rew
Non OGRAP!
EE ieee
iushom
Pee ee earn ee
, ,
ig
Q oo
Titrrryiririiii eee
ee
~ e
Price acai tt
>
200d5d500n0000000
jA>22S>de nave naoee
; rere ri ray)
5 incall ee el Racal Oi oak eae ‘ai:
; A cy ~
tC] el RAO
Beek Ms ae Te aa Arana
aes
Oe) aaa
ID tab laa Donne a) aT Onn