FLORISUGA FLABELLIFERA, Gowda.

Great Jacobin.

 

Trochilus ( ?) flabelliferus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xiv. p. 45.
Florisuga flabellifera, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 74.

 

Tue chief difference between this species and the Florisuga mellivora consists in its far greater size and in
the browner colouring of the tips of the tail-feathers : the extent of its range is at present unknown, but we
have positive evidence that it is by no means uncommon in the island of Tobago; numerous specimens
having been sent from thence by Mr. Kirk to Sir William Jardine, Bart., to whom I am indebted for the
specimens illustrated in the present work; I have also examples from the Orinoco, and others from
different localities in South America which are at present unknown to me.

The only information I have acquired respecting its habits is contained in the following brief note com-
municated to Sir William Jardine, Bart., by Mr. Kirk :—It is said to be found chiefly in low marshy
situations among the plantain bushes, in company with the Sabre-wing (Campylopterus ensipennis) ; and to

feed constantly on the wing.”

Head, neck and chest rich deep shining blue; back, rump, upper tail-coverts and flanks shining
green; a broad crescent-shaped mark at the nape of the neck, abdomen, under tail-coverts and tail, pure
white, the feathers of the latter bordered at the extremity with purplish brown; wings purplish brown ;
bill black.

Some examples have a stripe of reddish buff running down the sides of the face, but do not otherwise
differ in colouring.

The female has the upper surface coppery bronze; a trace of the white mark on the nape; wings
own; tail bronzy green passing into black near the extremity, with the three outer feathers

purplish br

tipped with white, ; :
throat mottled brown; tail-coverts greenish grey, with a crescent of black near the extremity,

the white tipping being greatest on the outer feather and successively less on the two

inner ones ;
and tipped with white.

This species appears to be <0.
so indeed, that a description of the different styles of plumage of the one would be nearly as descriptive of
those of the other.

The Plate represents two m

subject to the same variations of plumage as the Morisuga mellivora ; so much

ales and a female on one of the plants called Bots «mmortel by the settlers.