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.

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