LOPHORNIS CHALYBEUS.

Festive Coquette.

Trochilus chalybeus, Vieill. Eney. Méth. Orn., part u. p. 574.—Temm. Pl. Col. 66. fig. 2.—

Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. i. p. 129. pl. 18.
— festivus, Licht. Verz. der Doubl., p. 14. No. 122.

Ornismya Vieilloti, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 186. pl. 64.—Ib. Les Troch., p. 37. pl. 8,
p: 2 pl. 9, p. 44. pl. Ip 46: peas

Mellisuga chalybea, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. 1. p. 118, Melhisuga, sp. 90.

Lophornis chalybeus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., p. 84, Lophornis, sp. 9.

Ornismya Audenetii, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou. Supp., p. 102. pl. 2.

Trochilus Audenetii, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. i. p. 127. pl. 17.

Colibri mystax, Spix, Av. Bras., tom. 1. p. 82. Tab. LXXXIT. fig. 3.

Mellisuga Audenetu, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. 1. p. 118, Melhsuga, sp. 89.

Lophornis Audeneti, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 84, Lophornis, sp. 6.

 

Tue climate of the rich province of Rio de Janeiro, so favourable to the production of a luxuriant vegetation,
would seem to be equally propitious to animal life, for in few countries of the world are the quadrupeds,
birds and insects more varied in character, or more remarkable for their beauty, and the interest which
attaches to them: it is in this highly favoured region that the present elegant little Humming-Bird is to be
found, its chief abode being the districts to the southward of the capital. It is a species which has attracted
the notice of many naturalists, especially of those whose attention has been directed to the birds of Brazil ;
yet, strange to say, neither Vieillot, Temminck, Lesson, Jardine nor Spix have said anything more respect-
ing it than that it is from such and such a locality ; the following brief account of it will therefore be
read with interest. Mons. A. Deyrolle of Paris, who has had ample opportunities of observing the bird in
a state of nature, informs me that it is “abundant in the province of Santa Catharina, in Brazil, and is
especially numerous in the environs of San Francisco do Sul, and at Palmitar, 30 miles from the mouth of
the Rio San Francisco, in about 262° of S. latitude. It does not appear to migrate, as my brother
believes that he has met with it all the year round. It seems to be attracted to the two places above men-
tioned, by the abundance of a tree called, in the language of the country, Aimga, the botanical name of which
I am unable to give you. It is round the trunk of this tree that the bird is most commonly seen, often near
the top; and it would seem to live on a kind of sugar which flows from its bark; or would it not rather
be microscopic insects that it seeks for? It is not very wild: the noise produced by its wings when
flying is so peculiar, that an ear a little accustomed to it will distinguish it from that accompanying the
flight of all the other species inhabiting the same localities. It frequents the orange-trees and the Cofeyers
during their flowering season. It does not seem to inhabit the woods, but to resort to all the open spots
or clearings, especially where the Ainga trees are numerous.”

Mr. Reeves tells me that it is found at St. Paul’s, and occasionally, but very rarely, in Rio de Janeiro and
Santa Catharina.

It will be seen that I have made the Ornismya Audenetii of Lesson synonymous with the present species ;
and as a proof that I am correct in so doing, I may mention, that, having written to M. Edouard Verreaux
on the subject, he has favoured me with a reply, in which he says, “* You could not have written to any one
better able to answer your inquiry respecting the 7. Audeneti. The example from which Lesson took his
figure and description, was sold by my father to M. Audinet in 1827: after my return from the Cape of
Good Hope, that gentleman’s collection came into my possession; and upon reference to the specimen in
question, I am at a loss to conceive what could have induced M. Lesson to figure it as distinct; for
on comparison, I find that it is nothing more than an immature example of his O. Fielloti,’ which is the
T. chalybeus of Vieillot. M. Verreaux adds, that his father had received the bird from Brazil. The
T. mystaw of Spix is certainly identical with the bird here represented ; and although this author considers
it distinct, and points out some features in which he believes it to differ, I decidedly affirm that they
constitute but one species.

The usual differences occur in the sexes that are found in the other members of the genus; the female