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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.

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— torquata ap. Cons i , Mace 2 5 P
torquata, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.

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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

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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

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e tips of the feathers; thighs black ; tarsi white; toes yellowish rose-colour ; wings

reflexions of green on t

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-feathers dark olive-green, the remainder pure white tipped with dark olive-

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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.

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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