In general
lesticated, in
Winged pet,
ley educated
€ table when

1as ascended

FY. Py 206.

@ SOmewhat
crest is also
confounded,
crest. It js

les Oiseauy-

PY. Pl, 207.

od Newton.
ce from the
; an affinity

we believe,

land of St,
yersed with
d therefore

its I know

ating in a
ure, among
bable that

zil become

V. Pl. 208.

V, Pl. 209.

colouring
25 of this

mate,—in which respect the form offers an affinity to the members

cheeks and snowy breasts. In addition to this fine display of colours, tw

ENE RN ODUCTION

Ixxxi

235. Kuais Guimert

4 , : ; ; : : : Vol. IV. Pl. 210.
Basilinna Guimeti, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii, p. 45.

Myrabellia guimeti, Sclat. in Proc. Zool. Soc., part xxv. p. 17.

Mellisuga Merrittii, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. in New York, vol. vii. April 9, 1860.

Habitat. Venezuela and the Andes of New Granada.

“In the district of El Mineral” in New Granada, says Dr. Merritt, “there has been a slight attempt at culti-

vation of the soil and planting of fruit-trees. The Orange, the Guama, and Guayava trees are the most numerous,

particularly the last-named, which is very prolific, bearing nearly throughout the year fruit in all its stages from the
blossom to maturity. Consequently the Guayava tree is the favourite resort of the Humming-Bird. I often

watched these little creatures feeding and quarrelling around a tree near the door of my palm-leaf hut ; and soon

my attention was attracted to one much smaller than the rest, whose pugnacity and indomitable ‘pluck ’ greatly

amused me. Upon closer examination of this diminutive feathered warrior my interest increased, as I soon became
convinced that it was new to me. I frequently afterwards saw numerous specimens of it, and almost invariably
encountered them feeding from the blossoms of the Guayava,

and I therefore conclude they are quite local in their
habitat.”

Genus Myrapetiia, Bonap.

This is a very distinct generic form. Like that of Klais, it contains but a single species, a delicately-formed

bird inhabiting Mexico and Guatemala. The male is decorated with a brilliant green gorget,
entirely absent in the female.

a feature which is

236. MyIAaBEILLIA TYPICA : : ‘ :
Baucis Abeillei, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p: 13.
Abeillia typica, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay. tom. i. p. 79, Ramphomicron, sp. 4.
Basilinna Abeillii, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. pole
Baucis Abeillei, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 72.
Habitat. Mexico and Guatemala.

Vol. IV. Pl. 211.

“Volcan de Fuego and Coban. The barrancos of the voleano are the only localities

I am aware of, near
Duefias, where this species is found. Here, however, it is a common bird.

It is usually to be seen feeding about
upon the brushwood, seeking the flowers, &c. It is a restless species, but shows little symptoms of fear. My
skins from the volcano are one female and three males. The proportions at Coban are very different. Here it is
common, being found in all the mountain-hollows feeding among the Salvie. The ratio of the sexes js as twenty
males to one female.”—Salvin in Ibis, vol. ii. p. 262.

I must now direct the notice of my readers to some of the most chaste and elegant species yet discovered of
this or any other family of birds—namely, the members of the genera Heliactin, Heliothriv, Schistes, and Petasophora.

Genus Heiacrin, Bore.

The single species of this genus stands alone for the resplendent and richly coloured tufts of feathers which
spring from above and behind the eye.

237. HELIACTIN CoRNUTA

; Vol. IV. Pl. 212.
Heliactinus cornutus, Burm. Th. Bras. tom. il. p. 356.

Trochilus bilobus, Licht. in Mus. of Berlin.
Heliactin cornuta, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 64,
Habitat. Brazil, particularly the district of Minas Geraes.

The female of this species, like that sex in the genus Heliothriv, has a longer and more ample tail than her

of the succeeding genus.

Genus Heuiorurix, Bore.

This, like the last, is a very well-marked form, of which two species are natives of Central America and New

Granada, one of the regions of the upper Rio Negro, and two of the rich country of Brazil. They are all

distinguished by being decorated with beautiful blue tufts on the sides of the neck, relieved by glittering green
o of them have rich blue crowns; there is

Y