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