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