SPATHURA UNDERWOODL

White-booted Racket-tail.

Ornismya Underwoodii, Less. Troch., p- 105. pl. 37.

Trochilus Underwoodii, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. ii. p. 110. pl. 22.
Fan-tailed Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 339.

Trochilus ventilabrum, Lath. MSS.

Mellisuga Underwoodu, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, J ellisuga, sp. 56.

 

Tuis species enjoys a range of habitat over the Columbian Andes extending from the third to the tenth
degree of north latitude, but appears to be confined to the regions ranging between five and nine thousand
feet above the level of the ocean; it is abundant in the neighbourhood of Santa Fé de Bogota, and is nume-
rous in Galipan between La Guayra and the Caraccas. Mr. Dyson informs me that when hovering before
a flower the actions of its wings are exceedingly rapid, that it produces a loud humming sound, and that
the large spatules at the end of the outer tail-feathers show very conspicuously, being kept in continual
motion by the rapid movements of the bird, and the repeated closing and expanding of the tail; its white-
booted legs also are equally noticeable: it is strictly an inhabitant of the hills, and loves to examine the
flowers growing in the open passes and glades of the forest for its insect food, which it procures from the
highest trees as well as those near the ground. During flight it passes through the air with arrow-like
swiftness, the tail being carried in a horizontal position.

The plumage of the two sexes is widely different; the female being entirely devoid of the rich lustrous
green on the throat, and having only a rudiment of the white boots so conspicuous in the male: the
structure of the tail of the two birds is also very dissimilar, as will be seen on reference to the accom-

panying Plate.

The male has the whole of the upper surface, the abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts bronzy green,

green ;

wings purplish brown; tail brown, with the exception of the spatulate tips of the lateral tail-feathers, which

becoming richer and of a coppery hue on the upper tail-coverts; throat and chest rich lustrous

are black with greenish reflexions; tarsi thickly clothed with white downy feathers; bill black; feet
yellow.

Total length, 53 inches; bill, $; wing, 1+; fallieresce

The female has the upper surface and two middle tail-feathers bronzy green, the bronzy bue predomina-
ting on the head and the green on the tail-feathers ; wings purplish brown ; lateral tail-feathers brown, the
outer one on each side largely tipped with white, the remainder with a wash of bronzy green at their extre-
mities; under surface white, spotted on the sides of the breast and flanks with bronzy green; under tail-
coverts buff; tarsi clothed with white feathers ; feet yellow.

Total length, 3} inches ; bill, $; wing, 14; tail, 14.

The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size, on a branch of the Pass?flora ligularis.