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