GLAUCIS MAZEPPA.
Mazeppa Hermit.

Trochilus Mazeppa, Less. Les Troch., p. 18. pl. 3; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii.
p- 130.

Phaéthornis Mazeppa, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. ii. p. 152.

——— /fursutus, Jard. in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xx. p- 372.

Polytmus mazeppa, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 32.
Glaucis Mazeppa, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col., p- 15.

 

In figuring this bird as distinct from G. hirsuta, I must frankly admit that I am dealing with a difficulty in
a manner which I believe no ornithologist can say is right or wrong. It has for many years been ques-
tionable whether this small cinnamon-coloured bird be a distinct species or one of the sexes of G. hirsuta ;
and this doubt can never be satisfactorily solved until the bird has been observed in its native country
while breeding, and dissection has been resorted to. As far as my experience goes, we find none of the
little cinnamon-coloured birds, to which the term Mazeppa has been applied, in Southern Brazil or in the
Andes of New Granada. In the former country the true G. hirsuta is common; and Mr. Lawrence’s
G. affinis is abundant in the Andes. I must not fail to remark, however, that the true G. hirsuta, besides being
found in Southern Brazil, is also an inhabitant of the Guianas and Trinidad—localities of which the G. Mazeppa
is also a native. Under these circumstances of uncertainty I have thought it best to give a figure of this
bird on a separate plate, which will at least serve to bring the matter prominently into view, and, I trust,
be the means of directing the attention of persons who reside in those countries, particularly Trinidad,
to the investigation of the subject, so as to set the question at rest.

I believe that the following note by Mr. Kirk has reference to this bird, as I have a specimen in my
collection bearing his name and the locality of Tobago on the attached label.

‘* This little bird,” says Mr. Kirk, “is the most restless of all the Humming-Bird tribe ; it can scarcely be
said to be seen at rest, but darting right and left, zigzag ; at times, when suddenly surprised feeding, uttering
a sharp squeak, it will dart off and disappear like a meteor; at other times it will seem as if suspended for
several seconds by the point of the bill within three feet of a person’s face, after which it is sure to disappear
like lightning ; in these cases it truly assumes an attitude which a stranger might construe into a meditated
attack upon his person. I have often been induced to strike at them with my fowling piece, from their
proximity.” —* Hore Zoologice,’ by Sir W. Jardine, Bart., in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. xx. p. 372.

Crown of the head dull brown ; all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts bronzy green, the latter
fringed with grey; wings purplish brown; under surface deep fawn-colour fading into buffy white on the
chin ; a small mark behind and a stripe below each eye of buffy white ; two centre tail-feathers green at the
base, the remainder rich deep cinnamon red at the base, the whole crossed near the extremity by a band
of black, beyond which the tips are white ; upper mandible black ; lower mandible yellow at the base, black
at the tip; feet yellow or flesh-colour.

The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Marsdenta maculata.