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INTRODUCTION

TO

THE TROCHILIDA,

OR

FAMILY OF HUMMING-BIRDS.

BY

JOHN GOULD, F.R.S., &c. &c.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. 1861.

[The Author reserves to himself the right of Translation. |

Cambridge U On perme ep the Botany

eT De ee at ee Fey ee ee ee ee

le atti stone

TO

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS

THE CROWN PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA, PRINCESS ROYAL OF ENGLAND, THIS WORK, THE TROCHILIDA,

OR

FAMILY OF HUMMING-BIRDS,

IS, WITH PERMISSION, DEDICATED

BY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS’S

MOST OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,

JOHN GOULD.

NOTICE.

As the Introduction to my “ Monograph of the Trochilidz ” involved much intricate and laborious investigation, parti- cularly with regard to the synonymy of the various species, I have been induced to have it set up in octavo for the faci- lity of correction. From this draft, as it were, it has been reprinted in large type for the folio work. Believing that in its present form it might be interesting and useful to many of my scientific friends and others, I have had a limited number of copies printed for distribution among them. It must not, however, be regarded as a complete history of the family, but merely as an introduction to, and a revision of, the genera: the history of the species must be sought for in the folio work. At the same time it contains a considerable amount of information which has been acquired since the com- mencement of the publication, together with many additions to the synonymy; these are indicated by prefixed asterisks, the synonyms not so distinguished being merely an abbre- viated reprint of those which have already appeared in the folio edition. As it is not to be expected that persons un- connected with science should be conversant with the abbre-

viations of the names of the authors and the titles of the

a

‘ NOTICE.

works referred to, a fully detailed list of these has been added

for their information. In an early page I have stated that the family consisted of

nearly 400 species; but it will be found that 416 are enume- rated, 360 of which are figured. About 400 species are con- tained in my own collection, and these will be at all times accessible to men of science for the purposes of examination

and comparison.

London, 26 Charlotte Street, Bedford Square, W.C., Sept. 1, 1861.

PREFACE.

Tuar early impressions of the mind are vividly retained, while events of the day flit from our memory, must have been experienced by every one. How vivid, then, is my recollection of the first Hum- ming-Bird which met my admiring gaze! with what delight did 1 examine its tiny body and feast my eyes on its glittering plumage! This early impression, I well remember, gradually increased into an earnest desire to attain a more intimate acquaintance with the lovely group of birds to which it pertained, and was still further strengthened when an opportunity was afforded me of inspecting the, at that time, unique collection of the Trochilide formed by the late Mr. George Loddiges, of Hackney. This gentleman and myself were imbued with a kindred spirit in the love we both entertained for this family of living gems. To describe the feeling which animated us with regard to them is impossible; it can, in fact, only be realized by those who have made Natural History a study, and who pursue the investi- gation of its charming mysteries with ardour and delight. That our enthusiasm and excitement with regard to most things become lessened, if not deadened, by time, particularly when we have ac- quired what we vainly consider a complete knowledge of the subject, is, I fear, too often the case with most of us; not so, however, I believe with those who take up the study of the Family of Humming- Birds. Certainly I can affirm that such is not the case with my- self; for the pleasure which I experience on seeing a Humming-Bird is as great at the present moment as when I first saw one. During the first twenty years of my acquaintance with these wonderful works of creation, my thoughts were often directed to them in the day, and my night dreams have not unfrequently carried me to their native forests in the distant country of America.

In passing through this world I have ened that when in- quirers of a strong will really set themselves to attain a definite object, they generally accomplish it ; and in my own case the time at length arrived when I was permitted to revel in the delightof seeing the Hum- ming-Birds in a state of nature, and to observe their habits in the ponds onl among the great flowering trees of the United States of America and in Canada. For some time a single Humming-Bird was my constant companion during days of toil by road and rail, and I ultimately succeeded in bringing a living pair within the confines of

B

il

the British Islands, and a single individual to London, where it lived for two days, when, from the want of proper food or the change of climate, it died.

Although so enthusiastically attached to the subject, I should not have formed a collection of the Trochilide, or attempted an account of their history, had not my late friend Mr. George Loddiges (whose many excellences are too universally known to need any comment from me) been prematurely removed from among us. Prior to his lamented death, whatever species I procured from my various cor- respondents were freely placed at his disposal; and his collection was then unrivalled, and the pride of the owner as well as of his country, so far as a private collection could be considered of national importance. It was not until after Mr. Loddiges’ decease that I determined upon forming the collection I myself possess, which now far surpasses every other, both in the number of species and exam- ples. Ten years ago this collection was exhibited for a short time in the Gardens of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park, and, I believe, afforded unmixed delight to the many thousands who visited those Gardens in the memorable year 1851. Many favourable notices of it appeared in the periodicals of the day ; and my friend Mr. Martin published a small popular work in express reference to it. During the period which has since elapsed I have been unceasing in my en- deavours to obtain every species which has been discovered by the enterprising travellers of this country, of Germany, of France, and of America. It would be invidious were I to extol the exertions of one more than those of another, nor could I do so without committing injustice; for the travellers of all these countries have shown equal intrepidity in their endeavours to bring to light the hidden treasures of the great primeeval forests of the New World. Some of them, such as Azara, Spix, Bullock, De Lattre, Floresi, Dyson, Hoffmann, and Matthews (the discoverer of the wonderful Loddigesia mirabilis), are no longer among us: of those living who have paid especial attention to the Humming-Birds I may mention the names of Prince Maximilian of Wied, Waterton, Gosse, Warszewicz, Linden, Bridges, Jameson, Wallace, Bates, Darwin, Reeves, Hauxwell, Skinner, Bourcier, Sallé, Salvin, Fraser, Gundlach, Bryant, Montes de Oca, &c. It is to these men, living and dead, that science is indebted for a knowledge of so many of these “gems of creation ;” and it is by their exertions that such collections as Mr. Loddiges’ and my own have been formed. I regret exceedingly that I have not seen so much of this lovely group of birds in a state of nature as I could have wished: the traveller and

ili

the historian seldom go together ; and in this instance it would have been impossible. The constant personal attention and care necessary for the production of such a work as ‘A Monograph of the Tro- chilidae’ could only be given in a metropolis; for in no other place could such a publication be accomplished without a greatly increased expenditure both of time and money: it is only in capitals like London and Paris, that undertakings of this nature can be carried out successfully ; for nowhere else are the requisite talents and ma- terials to be obtained.

I feel that I am greatly indebted to those who have honoured this work with their support for their kindness and the patience with which they have continued with me to its completion—the more espe- cially as, owing to the discovery of so many new species since its com- mencement, it has extended far beyond its expected limits. I am also especially indebted to those persons connected with its production, by whose assistance I have been enabled to bring so great an under- taking to a satisfactory close. To my artist Mr. Richter, to Mr. Prince, and to Mr. Bayfield (all names connected with my former works), I owe many thanks. To the projectors and publisher of ‘ Curtis’s Botanical Magazine’ I am indebted also for many hints and for permission to copy parts of some of their plates of the flowering plants of those districts of South America which are frequented by Humming-Birds. In case the merits of this work should be unknown to some of my subscribers, it is generally acknowledged that its production reflects equal credit upon its Editors Sir William Jackson Hooker and Mr. Smith, to the artist Mr. Fitch, and to its publisher Mr. Lovell Reeve.

Numerous attempts had been made at various times to give some- thing like a representation of the glittering hues with which this group of birds are adorned, but all had ended m disappointment ; and the subject seemed so fraught with difficulty that I at first despaired of its accomplishment. I determined, however, to make the trial, and, after a series of lengthened, troublesome, and costly experiments, I have, I trust, partially, if not completely succeeded. Similar attempts were simultaneously carried on in America by W. M. L. Baily, Esq., who with the utmost kindness and liberality explained his process to me; and although I have not adopted it, I must in fairness admit that it is fully as successful as my own. I shall always entertain a lively remembrance of the pleasant day I spent with this gentleman in Philadelphia. It was in his company that I first saw a living Humming-Bird in a garden which has become classic ground to all true Americans, from the pleasing associations

B 2

iv

connected with its former possessor, the great and good Bartram, and from its having been one of the haunts of the celebrated Wilson, than whom no one has written more pleasingly on the species of this family which inhabits that part of North America, the Trochilus colubris.

It now becomes my pleasing duty to place on record the very valuable assistance in the production of this work with which I have been favoured by the Directors of Public Museums and private individuals. Of these the foremost on the list must be the names of M. Jules Bourcier, of Paris, and Thomas Reeves, Esq., of Rio de Janeiro. Both these gentlemen have made extensive collections of specimens, and have had numerous drawings prepared for the express purpose of publishing works on the subject, which with the utmost liberality have been placed at my disposal. To M. Bourcier, than whom no one possesses a more intimate acquaintance with this group of birds, I am likewise indebted for much valuable information which has been at all times rendered with the utmost willingness and promptitude. My thanks are also due to the Trustees and the Keepers of the Zoological Department of the British Museum ; to the Director of the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris; to Dr. Peters, Director of the Royal Zoological Museum of Berlin ; to George Ure Skinner, Esq., long resident in Guatemala; to that intrepid traveller M. Warszewicz, now Director of the Botanic Garden at Cracow, who, during his travels in South America, brought to light more new species of Humming-Birds than any other explorer; to my friends Sir William Jardine, Bart.; W.C. L. Martin, Esq.; T.C. Eyton, Esq.; Dr. Sclater; Alfred Newton, Esq.; M. Edouard Ver- reaux, of Paris; G. N. Lawrence, Esq., of New York ; and Dr. Baird, of Washington ; to Edward Wilson, Esq., to Sigismund Rucker, Esq., F. Taylor, Esq., of Liverpool ; William Tucker, Esq., of Trinidad ; and to T. F. Erskine, Esq., for the readiness with which they have at all times favoured me with both information and the loan of spe- cimens. To Miss Loddiges and her brother Mr. Conrad Loddiges, I am under considerable obligations for the facility of access they have always afforded me to the very valuable collection formed by their lamented father. Nor must the name of another valuable friend —the late Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte —be omitted from the list of those who took great interest in the present work, he having at all times rendered me that scientific assistance which his vast and varied talents so well enabled him to afford.

September 1, 1861.

INTRODUCTION.

THE question has often been asked, whence the term Humming- Bird has been derived, why the bird is so called. I may state in reply that, owing to the rapid movement of the wings of most of the members of this group, but especially of the smaller species, a vibratory or humming sound is produced while the bird is in the air, which may be heard at the distance of several yards, and that it is from this circumstance that the trivial name by which these birds are known in England has arisen. In France they are recognized by the terms Oiseau-Mouche and Colibri ; in Germany their common appellation is Kolibri ; by the Dutch they are called Kolibrieve ; by the Spaniards Pica flores and Tomino; by the Portuguese Tomeneco and Beija-flor ; in the neighbourhood of Xalapa they are known by the names of Chupa-rosa and Chupa-myrta, Rose-sucker and Myrtle- sucker ; by the Creoles of the Antilles and Guiana they are known by the names of Murmures, Bourdons, and Frou-frous. From the Mexi- cans, Peruvians, and other nations of South America they have re- ceived various appellations, such as Ourissia, huitziteil, tzitztototl, guanumbi, quinti or quintiut, quindé, visicilin, pigda, and courbiri ; all terms of a metaphorical character, signifying “ rays of the sun,” «tresses of the day-star,” ‘‘ murmuring birds,” &c.

Linneeus applied to the whole of the species known to him the generic appellation of Z’rochilus, a name given to some fabulous little bird by the ancients, and whence is derived the family designation of TrocHitipx. By Brisson, a contemporary of Linneus, the terms Polytmus and Mellisuga were proposed ; but with respect to some of the thirty-six species described by him, as well as by the older writers, such as Seba, Marcgrave, Willoughby, Ray, &c., it is extremely diffi- cult, if not impossible, to determine what they really were. We may, however, fairly commence our investigations with a greater chance of accuracy from the date when the great Swedish naturalist commenced his labours. By him twenty-two species were enumerated in the twelfth edition of his ‘Systema Nature.’ In Gmelin’s, or the thirteenth edition, the list is increased to sixty-seven. Of these I have deter- mined about two-thirds; the remainder must for ever continue involved in mystery, and their names be erased from our scientific works—the descriptions being extremely meagre, and the synonyms occasionally referring to figures of very different species. In some instances, even, the species are attributed to countries where Humming-Birds are never found ; while in others, such as that of the Harlequin Humming-Bird, the characters are taken from a plate which must have been drawn from imagination and not from any real specimen, These are a few of the difficulties which a naturalist has to encounter when access to

2

the types cannot be obtained. I think it necessary to make this statement as a reason for not quoting all the names given by the older authors. Wherever they could be with certainty determined, they have been quoted under the species to which they are believed to refer. The numerous divisions which more modern writers have deemed it necessary to propose will be given in the proper place.

Latham, who added little or nothing to the previously recorded notices of this group of birds, enumerated sixty-five species in his ‘Index Ornithologicus,’ published in 1790, and ninety-five in the third volume of his ‘ General History of Birds,’ which appeared in 1822. Of these about two-thirds are real species, the remainder cannot be determined, as they are so indefinitely described that it is im- possible to ascertain whether they are species or not.

In 1802 the ‘ Oiseaux dorés,’ the great French work of Audebert and Vieillot, was given to the world. In it, besides figures of all the Jacamars and Promerops then known, were included seventy plates of Humming-Birds. These plates represent species which, though then rare, are now extremely common, and which, although not so numerous as those contained in the later work of Latham, had the advantage of being illustrated in a manner which was intended to convey some idea of their brilliancy. In most instances the species may be recognized; in others they are doubtful. Independently of the illustrations above-mentioned these authors attempted to explain the laws which produce the splendid colouring of certain parts of these beautiful birds, and have given a plate illustrative of their views on the subject.

In 1823 appeared the second part of the ornithological portion of the ‘Tableau Encyclopédique et Méthodique des Trois Régnes de la Nature,’ by Bonnaterre and Vieillot, with an enumeration of ninety- four species of Humming-Birds, but no additional information as to their habits and manners. A few years later (between 1829 and 1833) appeared M. Lesson’s well-known works, the ‘ Histoire Na- turelle des Oiseaux-Mouches,’ ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Colibris,’ and ‘Les Trochilidées,’—publications which added considerably to our previous knowledge of the group, although they enumerate no more than 110 species. How little progress, then, had been made towards an intimate acquaintance with these lovely birds between the date of the twelfth edition of the ‘Systema Naturze’ and that of the last- named publications, a period of more than seventy years !

If the illustrious Humboldt paid no very marked attention to the Trockihde, he must have noticed many of the fine species lately brought to light; and it is therefore somewhat surprising that he should have been so remarkably silent respecting them when writing the ‘Personal Narrative’ of his travels in the new world. It is to him and to his associate Bonpland, however, that I consider we are indebted for our acquaintance with many of them; for the perusal of the interesting account of their enterprising travels has doubtless created a desire in others to follow in their footsteps. Thus suc- ceeding travellers, who have not been slow to perceive how wonder- fully different are the productions of the great Andean ranges from

3

those of the other parts of South America have ever been active in forming and transmitting to Europe collections in nearly every depart- ment of science, and no objects have been more assiduously sought for than the flying gems which constantly greeted them at every turn and must have been always before their eyes. Among the most eminent travellers who have succeeded Humboldt are D’Orbigny, Schom- burgk, Tschudi, Castelnau, Burmeister, and others, who, with more recent but less known explorers, have added so largely to our knowledge of the Trochilida. Both Frenchmen and Belgians have proceeded to South America to procure supplies of these birds; and dealers from those countries have established themselves in some of the cities of that part of the world for the like purpose. From Sta. Fé de Bogota alone many thousands of skins are annually sent to London and Paris, and sold as ornaments for the drawing-room and for scientific purposes. The Indians readily learn the art of skinning and preserving, and, as a certain amount of emolument attends the collecting of these objects, they often traverse great distances to pro- cure them; districts more than a hundred miles on either side of Bo- gota are strictly searched ; and hence it is that from these places alone we receive not less than seventy species of this family of birds. In like manner the residents of many parts of Brazil employ their slaves in collecting, skinning, and preserving them for the European mar- ket; and many thousands are annually sent from Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Pernambuco. They also supply the inmates of the con- vents with many of the more richly coloured species for the manu- facture of artificial-feather flowers. How numerous, then, must these birds be in their native wilds, and how wonderfully must they keep

in check the peculiar kind of insect life upon which they principally

feed! which is, doubtless, one of the objects for which they were designed. After these few cursory remarks I proceed to give a general history of the group, the range and distribution of the species, and such additional information as I have acquired during the course of my labours.

“<The first mention which is made of the Humming-Birds,” says M. Lesson, “ in the narratives of the adventurers who proceeded to America, not with the design of studying its natural productions, but for the discovery of gold, dates from 1558, and is to be found in ‘Les Singularités de la France Antarctique ’ (Brazil) of André Thevet and Jean de Lery, companions of La Villegaignon, who at- tempted in 1555 to found a French colony there; but these super- ficial accounts would not have unfolded their natural history, had not the old naturalists who published their observations at the commence- ment of the seventeenth century taken care to make them better known; and we find some good accounts of them in the voluminous compilation of Nieremberg, in the collection of fragments from the great works of Hernandez or Fernandez, and in those of Piso. Ximenez, Acosta, Gomara, Marcgrave, Garcilasso, and Dutertre often mention these birds, but their remarks are so superficial that it would be of little use to quote them now. Towards the end of the same century Sir Hans Sloane, Catesby, Edwards, Brown, Father

4

Labat, Plumier, Louis Feuillée, and Rochefort gave tolerably com- plete figures and descriptions of some of the species ; but it was not until the commencement of the eighteenth century that we became better acquainted with their natural history.”

It will be seen that little was really known respecting the Hum- ming-Birds even at the end of the career of the great Linnzeus. From Captain Cook both Pennant and Linnzeus became aware that a species was found as far north as Nootka Sound, while every voy- ager to the eastern shores of North America brought tidings of its representative in the Trochilus colubris. Jamaica, St. Domingo, and the smaller islands of the West Indies, furnished a fair quota in the species inhabiting those countries ; and correspondents were speedily established by Sloane, Brown, Edwards and Catesby in Hispaniola, Demerara, and Brazil. Of all these countries the Hum- ming-Birds and other zoological productions were then but partially, and only partially, known. The great primeval forests of Brazil, the vast palm-covered districts of the deltas of the Amazon and the Orinoco, the fertile flats and savannahs of Demerara, the luxu- riant and beautiful region of Xalapa (the country of perpetual spring) and other parts of Mexico, were literally untrodden ground by the ornithological collector. Up to this time the vast provinces of the New World had only been skirted ; all within was virgin land, wherein even the explorer had scarcely placed a foot, and where the only human inhabitants were the wild children of nature—the Bota- cudos and other tribes of South American Indians. If the country glanced at in the foregoing remarks had provided the naturalists of the days of Linnzeus with ample materials for study and investiga- tion, how much greater would have been their amazement and delight had they been acquainted with the hidden treasures of the great Andean ranges, which stretch along the entire country, from the Rocky Mountains on the north to near Cape Horn on the south. Along the whole line of this great backbone, as it were, of Ame- rica, at remarkably short intervals, occur species of this family of birds of the greatest beauty and interest, which are not only spe- cifically but generically distinct from each other. Whole groups of them, remarkable for their singularity, have become known to us from the inquiries and explorations of later travellers ; and abundant as the species may he towards the northern and southern portions of the great chain of mountains, they vastly increase as we approach the equator. These equatorial regions teem with species, and even genera, which are not found elsewhere. Between the snowline of the summits of the towering volcanoes and their bases, many zones of temperature occur, each of which has its own especial animal and vegetable life. The alpine region has its particular flora, accompanied by insects especially adapted to such situations ; and attendant upon these are peculiar forms of Humming-Birds, which never descend to the hot valleys, and scarcely even to the cooler and more tempe- rate paramos. Many of the highest cones of extinct and of exist- ing volcanos have their own faunas and floras: even in the interior walls of ancient craters, wherever vegetation has gained a footing,

~~

5

some species of Humming-Birds have there, and there only, been as yet discovered. It is the exploration of such situations that has led to the acquisition of so many additional species of this family of birds, which now reach to nearly 400 in number.

_It might be thought by some persons that 400 species of birds so diminutive in size, and of one family, could scarcely be distinguished from each other; but any one who studies the subject, will soon perceive that such is not the case. Even the females, which assi- milate more closely to each other than the males, can be separated with perfect certamty ; nay, even a tail-feather will be sufficient for a person well versed in the subject to say to what genus and species the bird from which it has been taken belongs. I mention this fact to show that what we designate a species has really distinctive and constant characters; and in the whole of my experience, with many thousands of Humming-Birds passing through my hands, I have never observed an instance of any variation which would lead me to suppose that it was the result of a union of two species. I write this without bias, one way or the other, as to the question of the origin of species. I am desirous of representing nature in her won- derful ways as she presents herself to my attention at the close of my work, after a period of twelve years of incessant labour, and not less than twenty years of interesting study. Iam, of course, here speaking of the special object of my own studies—the Humming- Birds.

It is somewhat remarkable that any persons living in the present enlightened age should persist in asserting that Humming-Birds are found in India and Africa. Yet there are many who believe that such is the case. Even in a work but recently published it is stated that Humming-Birds and Toucans are both found in the last-men- tioned country ; and I was once brought into a rather stormy alter- cation with a gentleman who asserted that the Humming-Bird was found in England, and that he had seen it fly in Devonshire. Now the object seen in Devonshire was the insect called the Humming- Bird Moth, Macroglossa stellarum; and the birds supposed to be- long to this family by residents and travellers in India and Africa are of a totally different group—the Nectariniide or Sun-Birds. These latter birds have no relationship to the Trochilide; they are not even representatives of them in the countries alluded to; and their only points of resemblance consist in their diminutive size and the showy character of their plumage. Let it be understood, then, once for all, that the Humming-Birds are confined to America and its islands (that is, the West Indiés im the Atlantic, and Chiloe and Juan Fernandez in the Pacific; none have as yet been found in the Galapagos). The Selasphorus rufus goes as far north as Sitka. Kot- zebue informs us that it is found in summer as high as the sixty-first parallel on the Pacific coast ; while, on the antartic end of the con- tinent, Captain King observed the Eustephanus galeritus flitting about among the Fuchsias of Tierra del Fuego in a snow-storm. Both these species, however, are migrants,—the northern bird retiring, as au- tumn approaches, to the more temperate climate of Mexico, while the

6

other wends its way up to the warmer regions of Bolivia and Peru. The migration of these birds is of course performed at directly op- posite periods. Both the Selasphorus rufus and the Trochilus colu- bris spend the summer in high northern latitudes ; but the former always proceeds along the western, and the latter along the eastern parts of the country: the 7. colubris even extends its range as far as the fifty-seventh parallel, where it was observed by Sir John Richardson. Although these and some other species pass over vast extents of country, I do not believe that they are capable of long-con- tinued flights : that is, I question their power of crossing seas or more than from one island to another; for although we know that the two birds above-mentioned pass over many degrees of latitude in their migrations, I believe that these journeys are performed in a series of comparatively short stages, and always by land, and that the whole of their movements are more or less influenced by the progress of the sun north or south as the case may be.

North America, then, may be said to have two Humming-Birds— a western and an eastern species. It is true that Audubon has men- tioned two others in his great work—the Lampornis Mango and Calypte Anne—and states that the former was found at Key West in East Florida. Since then, however, I believe no other example has been discovered there; and one can scarcely understand the oc- currence of the bird in that part of America, since it is a native of countries and islands lying so much further south.

Leaving North America, and proceeding south, we begin to meet with several other species, which rarely extend their range to the north—viz. the Calypte Anne, C. Coste, Selasphorus platycercus,

vochilus Alexandri, ard Calothorax Calliope. These birds are also migratory, but their range is much less extensive than that of the two species previously mentioned. As we advance im this direction, Humming-Birds become extremely numerous, and, as regards ge- nera and species, continue to increase in the more southern country of Guatemala, where every variety of climate is to be found. The forest-clad mountains of Vera Paz appear to afford a winter retreat to many of the northern species, as the regions contiguous to the Atlas range in Africa do to the numerous little warblers of this country and the continent of Europe. Besides these migrants, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica have species which are either stationary or merely change their quarters in accordance with the flowering- season of the trees on which they seek their food, moving east and west or vice versd according to circumstances. The countries fur- ther south, or those lying betweei Guatemala and Panama, appear to have a bird-fauna almost peculiar to themselves; for it is seldom that the species inhabiting Costa Rica and Veragua extend their range to the northward, neither are they often found in the more southern country of New Granada.

It is in the last-mentioned country—New Granada—that some of the finest of the Trochilide are found,—its towering mountains having species peculiar to themselves, while its extensive paramos are tenanted by forms not found elsewhere. On the principal

7

ranges of the Andes, species exist which do not occur on the lower elevations situated more to the eastward. Thesé ranges are the sources of numerous rivers, some of which have a northerly course —such as the Atrato, Cauca, and the great Magdalena, which debouch into the Caribbean Sea—and the river Zulia, which empties itselfinto the Lake of Maracaybo. Some of the very finest species yet discovered were collected near the town of Pamplona, which is situated on the banks of the last-mentioned river. The country round Antioquia, situated on the lower, and Popayan on the upper part of the Cauca, appear also to be very rich in natural productions, and particularly so in Humming-Birds. It is, however, on the paramos which surround Bogota, and on the luxuriantly clad sides of the valleys through which flows the main stream of the Magdalena, that the greatest number of species have been discovered. Bogota, the capital of this district, has for a long time been the centre whence collections have been transmitted to Europe and the United States. The Indians have been initiated into the modes of preparing these lovely objects ; and as gain and excitement have thus gone hand in hand, this part of America may be said to have been thoroughly ransacked, and I expect that but few novelties remain to be discovered therein. Now as most of the productions that have yet reached us from Antioquia and Pamplona, two districts lying in

about the same parallel of latitude on either side the great valley “« ~

the Magdalena, are guite distinct and different from those of Bogota, we may safely infer that, if they: were as closely searched, many new species would be found. The country of the Caraccas and Cumana _ have Humming-Birds which partake less of the characters of the

mountain species, and assimilate more closely to those of the Guianas, and Northern Brazil. It will be seen, I think, from what I have here said, that the species of Humming-Birds increase in numbers as we proceed towards the equator; that most of them are confined to

countries having peculiar physical characters ; and that those of New ~~ =

Granada differ considerably from the Humming-Birds of Veragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. I have observed an equally marked difference in the species which inhabit the high lands giving rise to the rivers which run eastward; I mean the many tributaries of the Napo, the Caqueta or Japura, and the Amazon.

From the eastern side of Chimborazo flow many streams which ultimately find their way into the Amazon; and however numerous the species found in the elevated districts of New Granada may be, I believe that when the dense and luxuriant forests bordering these well-watered lands are fully investigated, the species inhabiting them will be found far to exceed in number those of every other district. Even the snowy Chimborazo may be said to be inhabited by Hum- ming-Birds: certain it is that the Oreotrochilus Chimborazo lives upon it just below the line of perpetual congelation, some of my specimens of this bird killed by M. Bourcier bearing on the attached labels an elevation of 16,000 feet; and Mr. Fraser, I believe, killed others in an equally elevated region. Here, then, is a bird which encounters the cold blasts of these lofty situations with impunity,

8

dwelling in a world of almost perpetual sleet, hail, and rain, and there feeding upon the insects which resort to the Chuquiraga in- signis and other flowering plants peculiar to the situation. ‘These truly alpine birds have always a great charm with me; and as the Species just mentioned is especially beautiful, it is of course a great favourite. Besides Chimborazo, there exist many other cones of but little less elevation, such as Pichincha, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe, which, strange to say, are reported to be frequented by species pecu- liar to each ; and if this be the case, how many other summits yet untrodden may reveal others at present unknown to us? Now what I have said with regard to the gradual increase of Humming-Bird life from the north to the equator may be equally said of their increase towards the same line from the south. The species there found, although quite different from those of the north, perform precisely the same functions, are subject to the same migratory movements, &c.

To the southward of the equator, however, the species appear to be far less numerous. And it could not be expected but that such would be the case when we consider the particular character of the country,—the dry and sterile plains of Peru, the extensive pampas of La Plata, &c., being all unsuited to insect and therefore to Hum- ming- Bird life, and a diminution in their numbers the natural result. But the paucity in numbers would seem to be compensated in the beauty of the individuals. Peru and Bolivia are the cradles ofthe splendid comet-tailed species of the genus Cometes, the Lesbie, Di- phogene, the delicate birds known as Thaumasture, &c. These countries produce also the largest Humming- Bird yet known, the Pa- tagona gigas, which with an Oreotrochilus and a Lustephanus are all the species known to me from the lengthened country of Chili. The little island called Chiloe, characterized by great humidity, is inhabited by the common Chilian species last mentioned ; while the celebrated island of Juan Fernandez, over 300 miles from the main. land, is tenanted by three kinds, of which two are so distinct from all others known, that they cannot for a moment be confounded with any of them. The three species, in fact, which people this solitary spot in the wide Pacific are very different from each other; and [ may mention that nothing like a cross or intermixture has ever been observed, an event that might have been expected to occur here, if ever it does among animals living in a state of nature. Strange to say, these beautiful creatures are almost the only examples of bird life existing on this remarkable island. The knowledge of the existence of these lovely flying gems gives an additional zest to the interest attached to the scene of the principal events in Defoe’s charming tale.

In the foregoing pages I have glanced at the species of Humming- Birds inhabiting the great range of mountains running north and south through many degrees of latitude on both sides of the equator, Whole genera of the Trochilide are found there, and there alone, In the highlands of Mexico, among others we find the peculiar genera Delattria, Selasphorus, and Calypte. On crossing the rib- bon-like strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama, we enter upon

9

a region of highlands bearing the genera Oxypogon, Lafresnaya, Bourcierta, Dorifera, Helianthea, Heliangelus, Eriocnemis, Lesbia, Cynanthus, Agleactis, Metallura, Ramphomicron, and many others, none of which are found in the less-elevated countries of Brazil, the Guianas, or the West Indian Islands. It is true that these coun- tries, particularly Brazil, possess forms of Humming-Birds which are now and then feebly represented in the Andes; but these cases are quite exceptional. When we leave the Andes we bid adieu to the finest, the largest, and the most gorgeously attired species.. Other beautiful kinds do here and there exist in Brazil, such as the Chry- solampis moschitus, the Topaza pella, and the Lophornithes; but the greater number are comparatively small and inconspicuous. Of the members of the genus Phaéthornis, a group of Humming-Birds, popularly known by the name of Hermits, from their frequenting the darkest and most retired parts of the forest, three-fourths are natives of Brazil. The great forest-covered delta of the Amazon, where palms are numerous, seems to be particularly unfavourable to the Trochilide, since from Para to Ega there are scarcely ten species of the family to be met with.

In this cursory glance at the distribution of this family of birds, those frequenting the West Indian Islands have yet to be noticed ; and here not only do we find some peculiar to those islands as a whole, but in each of them, with but very few exceptions, there are species and even genera which are not found in the Andes, the other islands, or the more contiguous flat parts of the South American Continent. Cuba has at least three, one of which is a most lovely little bird. The principal island of the Bahaman group is in like manner fa- voured with a charming Calothoraz, which Dr. Bryant tells us flies in great. numbers round the town of Nassau ; yet the bird does not, I believe, inhabit any of the other islands or the mainland.

Jamaica possesses three, which are all quite distinct, and so widely different from every other, that it is a perfect mystery to the na- turalist how they first obtained a footing there. Nothing like in- terbreeding between two species appears to occur in this island ; if such were the case, we could not but be aware of the fact, since we have not only been for many years in the habit of receiving hundreds of birds from Jamaica, but this island has had the advantage of a naturalist, Mr. Gosse, who has most closely observed the birds re- sident there. St. Domingo has two species, differing from those of Jamaica. This law with respect to the Humming-Bird inhabitants of the West Indian and Leeward Islands, is equally carried out in the necklace-like string of the Wimdwards ; but when we arrive at the island of Trinidad, the species become much more numerous and partake of the character of those which inhabit the mainland— the opposite shores of Venezuela.

It may be asked, what is our present knowledge of the existing species of Humming-Birds, and if there may not be others to be dis- covered in the great primeval forests of the western and other parts of the vast continent of the new world. My reply is that, in all pro- bability, many more than are known to us do exist, and that a very

10

lengthened period must elapse before we shall acquire anything like a perfect knowledge of the group. Whatever I may have done towards the elucidation of the subject, I must only be regarded as a pioneer for those who, in future ages, will render our acquaintance with this family of birds so much more complete than it is at the present time.

The countries of South America whose productions are least known are Costa Rica, Veragua, Panama, the sea-bord between Carthagena and Guayaquil, the forests of La Paz and other parts of Bolivia, the whole of the eastern slopes of the Andes bordering Peru and Ecuador, and the western portion of Brazil. All these countries will doubtless furnish new kinds of Humming-Birds when the explorer shall extend his researches into their unknown recesses. We may feel fully con- vinced that such will be the case from the circumstance of single individuals in a youthful or imperfect state, which we cannot identify as belonging to any known species, occasionally occurring in the great collections sent from time to time to Europe. My own collection contains several examples of this kind, which will doubtless at some future day prove to belong to undescribed species. For more than twenty long years have I been sending the most earnest entreaties, accompanied with drawings, to my correspondents in Peru and Ecua- dor for additional examples of that truly wonderful bird the Loddi- gesia mirabilis. These entreaties have been backed by the offers of large sums of money to any person who would procure them; but up to the present moment no second example has been obtained. Probably the single individual killed by Mr. Matthews in the neigh- bourhood of Chachapoyas was one which had accidentally strayed beyond the area in which the species usually dwells, and which has not yet been discovered. That it may be a nocturnal bird has some- times suggested itself to my mind, and that this may be the reason why it has not since been seen. Those of my readers who are not acquainted with this most wonderful member of the Trochilidee will do well to refer to the plate, in which a correct representation of it is given by the masterly hand of Mr. Richter.

The preceding remarks must, I think, have given the reader a general idea of the countries inhabited by the members of the great family of Humming-Birds ; it now becomes necessary to speak of their peculiar structure, and the place they appear to occupy in the Class Aves. By systematists they have been bandied about from one group to another: by some they have been associated with the Sun-Birds (Nectarinie) ; by others with the Cypseline, Picine, Sittine, Certhine, &c.

In Brisson’s arrangement, published in 1760, they constitute with the Creepers his twelfth order. By Linneus in 1766, and Latham in 1790, they were placed in the class Pice, together with the Creep- ers, Hoopoes, &c. In like manner they are associated with the same birds in the fourteenth order of Lacépéde’s arrangement, published in 1799. In Duméril’s classification, proposed in 1806, they form part of his second order—Passerine Birds—and are associated with Kingfishers, Todies, Nuthatches, Bee-Eaters, Creepers, &c. They

id

form a distinct family of the second Order, Ambulatores, in the arrangement of Illiger published in 1811. They also constitute a distinct family by themselves of the Tenuirostral Division of the order Passeres in Cuvier’s system of 1817. By Vieillot, whose arrange- ment was published about the same time, they form part of the twenty-second family Sylvicole, and are associated with Creepers, Sun-Birds, and Honey-eaters. By Temminck, in the second edition of his ‘ Manuel d’Ornithologie,’ published in 1820, they were placed, together with the Creepers, Sun-Birds, Hoopoes, &c., in his sixth Order, Anisodactyli. In De Blainville’s arrangement, which appeared in the years in 1815, 1821, and 1822, they form a separate family of the Saléatores, with the Kingfishers preceding, and the Crows following them. Vigors, in 1825, made them a distinct family of his second Order, Insessores,—the preceding family being composed of the Sun-Birds, and the succeeding one of the Promeropide. Latreille in the same year pleced them in the fourth family Tenuirostres of the second Order or Passerine Birds, along with the Hoopoes, Promerops, Sun-Birds, &c. Lesson, in 1828, made them the eighth family of the Insessores, and associated them with the Sun-Birds, Creepers, &c. By Boié they were divided in the ‘Isis’ for 1831 into eleven genera, Viz. Bellatriz, Calliphlox, Glaucis, Anthracoraz, Heliactin, Hylocharis, Basilinna, Chrysolampis, Heliothriz, Smaragdites, and Eulampvs. Swainson, in 1837, constituted them the third family of the Tenuz- rostres, with the Sun-Birds preceding, and the Promeropidee and Hoo- poes succeeding them. In Mr. G. R. Gray’s ‘List of the Genera of Birds,’ published in 1841, and in his great work ‘On the Genera of Birds,’ completed in 1850, they form the third family of the Te- nuirostres. In the ‘Conspectus Systematis Ornithologie’ of Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, given to the world a few years before his lamented death, they form Stirps 17 suspensi, of his second Order Passeres; and Tribe Volucres, with the Hoopoes and Promerops placed before, and the Swifts and Swallows after them. In his ‘ Con- spectus Generum Avium’ they form the eleventh family of the Inses- sores, with the Swifts preceding them, and are succeeded by the Phytotomide or Plant-Cutters. In his ‘“‘ Conspectus Trochilorum,” published in the ‘ Revue et Magasin de Zoologie’ for May 1854, they form the seventy-second family of his Passerine Birds. In Dr. Reich- enbach’s arrangement, in Cabanis’s ‘Journal fir Ornithologie’ for 1853, they are fancifully divided into groups of Fairies, Elfs, Gnomes, _Sylphs, &c. ; and in his ‘Trochilmarum Enumeratio’ he places these birds between the true Creepers on the one hand, and the Hoopoes on the other. By Cabanis, the latest writer on the subject, they are placed with the Swifts and Goatsuckers, in his 3rd Order Strisores and Tribe Macrochires. ; j Ornithologists of the present day consider them to be more inti- mately allied to the true Swifts than to any other group of birds. This view of the subject is supported by the fact of the Humming- Birds, like the Swifts, having most ample wings, vast powers of flight, and a bony structure very closely assimilating: and this alliance is still further exemplified in some parts of their nidification, the number

{2

and colour of their eggs, &c. It is not to be expected that, with this subject before me for so many years, I should have been inat- tentive to the consideration of the place these birds should occupy in our attempts at a natural arrangement; and while I admit that they are somewhat allied to the Swifts, they are so essentially distinct from these and all other birds, that they might be separated into a distinct Order with quite as much, if not greater, propriety as the Pigeons when considered in relation to the Gallinaceous Birds. They have certain characters, dispositions, and modes of life which are not to be noticed in any other group of birds: their cylindrical bills, double-tubed tongues, enormously developed sternums, and cor- responding pectoral muscles, rigid primaries, the first of which is the longest, and their diminutive feet separate them from all others. In the Swifts and Fissirostral birds generally the sexes are alike in out- ward appearance ; in the Humming-Birds they are in nearly every instance totally different in their colouring: in the former the young assume the livery of the adult before they leave the nest, while the contrary is the case with the Humming-Birds. How different, too, is the texture of the luminous feathers with which they are clothed ; and vastly diversified in form as the tail is in the various genera, the number of feathers in the whole of them is invariably ten. In their disposition they are unlike birds, and approach more nearly to insects. Many of the species fearlessly approach almost within reach of the hand; and if they enter an open window, as curiosity may lead them to do, they may be chased and battled with round the apartment until they fall exhausted ; and if then taken up by the hand, they almost immediately feed upon any sweet, or pump up any fluid, that may be offered them, without betraying either fear or resentment at their previous treatment. A Trochilus colubris, cap- tured for me by some friends at Washington (Baron Osten Sacken, Mr. Odo Russell, and his brother Mr. Arthur Russell), immediately afterwards partook of some saccharine food that was presented to it, and in two hofirs it pumped tbe fluid out of a little bottle whenever I offered it ; and in this way it lived with me a constant companion for several days, travelling in a little thin gauzy-bag distended by a slender piece of whalebone, and suspended to a button of my coat. It was only necessary for me to take the little bottle from my pocket to induce it to thrust its spiny bill through the gauze, protrude its lengthened tongue down the neck of the bottle, and pump up the fluid until it was satiated ; it would then retire to the bottom of its little home, preen its wing- and tail-feathers, and seem quite content.

The specimens I brought alive to this country were as docile and fearless as a great moth or any other insect would be under similar treatment. The little cage in which they lived was twelve inches long, by seven inches wide, and eight inches high. In this was placed a diminutive branch of a tree, and suspended to the side a glass phial which I daily supplied with saccharine matter in the form of sugar or honey and water, with the addition of the yelk of an unboiled egg. Upon this food they appeared to thrive and be happy during the voyage along the sea-bord of America and across

13

the Atlantic, until they arrived within the influence of the climate of Europe. Off the western part of Ireland symptoms of drooping unmistakeably exhibited themselves ; but although they never fully rallied, I, as before stated, succeeded in bringing one of them alive to London, where it died on the second day after its arrival at my house. The vessel in which I made the passage took a northerly course, which carried us over the banks of Newfoundland; and although the cold was rather severe during part of the time, the only effect it appeared. to have upon my little pets was to induce a kind of torpidity, from which, however, they were readily aroused by placing them in the sunshine, or in some warm situation, such as before a fire, in the bosom, &c. I do assure my readers that I have seen these birds cold and stiff, and to all appearance dead; and that from this state they were readily restored with a little attention and removal into light and heat, when they would “‘ perk up,” flutter their little wings, and feast away upon their usual food as if in the best state of health.

How wonderful must be the mechanism which sets in motion and sustains for so lengthened a time the vibratory movements of a Hum- ming-Bird’s wings! To me their action appeared unlike any thing of the kind I had ever seen before, and strongly reminded me of a piece of machinery acted upon by a powerful spring. I was particularly struck by this peculiarity in the flight, as it was exactly the opposite of what I expected. The bird does not usually glide through the air with the quick darting flight of a swallow or swift, but con- tinues tremulously moving its wings while passing from flower to flower, or when taking a more distant flight over a high tree or across ariver. When poised before any object, this action is so rapidly performed that it is impossible for the eye to follow each stroke, and a hazy semicircle of indistinctness on each side of the bird is all that is perceptible. ‘The wind produced by the wings of these little birds,” says Mr. Salvin, “appears to be very considerable; for I noticed that while an example of Cyanomyia cyanocephala which had flown into the room was hovering over a large piece of wool, the entire surface of the wool was violently agitated.” Although many short intermissions of rest are taken during the day, the bird may be said to live in air—an element in which it performs every kind of evolution with the utmost ease, frequently rising perpendicu- larly, flying backward, pirouetting or dancing off, as it were, from place to place, or from one part of a tree to another, sometimes descending, at others ascending ; it often mounts up above the tower- ing trees, and then shoots off like a little meteor at a right angle ; at other times it quietly buzzes away among the little flowers near the ground; at one moment it is poised over a diminutive weed, at the next it is seen at a distance of forty yards, whither it has vanished with the quickness of thought. During the heat of the day the shady retreats beneath the trees are very frequently visited ; in the morning and evening the sunny banks, the verandahs, and other exposed situations are more frequently resorted to.

The foregoing remarks are from personal observation of the habits of Trochilus colubris ; and I have been informed by Mr. Salvin and

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others that a similar action characterizes most of the species. I believe, however, that those members of the Trochilidse which are furnished with more ample wings, such as the species of the genera Agleactis, Ramphomicron, Pterophanes, and Patagona, have a very different mode of flight, move their wings with diminished rapidity, and pass much more slowly through the air. Mr. Darwin, when speaking of the Patagona gigas, says, ‘‘ Like others of the family, it moves from place to place with a rapidity which may be compared to that of Syrphus among Diptera, and Sphinw among Moths; but whilst hovering over a flower it flaps its wings with a very slow and powerful movement, totally different from that vibratory one, common to most of the species, which produces the humming noise. I never saw any other bird, where the force of its wings appeared (as in a butterfly) so powerful in proportion to the weight of its body. When hovering by a flower, its tail is constantly expanded and shut like a fan, the body being kept in a nearly vertical position. This action appears to steady and support the bird, between the slow movements of its wings.”

In the intervals of flight, I believe that they not only rest in the ordinary way, but even pass some time in sleep ; at least I found that this was the case with my living birds, and that from this state of partial torpor they were not easily aroused. In the morning and evening they were far more animated than at any other period of the day ; and they would even perform their buzzing evolutions round their cage, and sip from their little bottle in the night-time, if a light was brought into the room. They usually sat in a moping position, with the bill in a line with the body, or slightly elevated, after the manner of the Kingfishers. I never saw them hang by their feet and sleep with their heads downwards—a position which I have been informed is sometimes assumed by Humming-Birds.

When we have compared the wings of Calliphlow Amethystinus with those of Patagona gigas, we have noticed the two extremes of develop- ment in these organs, but many intermediate forms exist, and each modification has doubtless an influence on the mode and power of flight. I cannot leave the subject of the wings without alluding to the extraordinary development of the shafts of the primaries in the Cam- pylopteri. The great dilatation of these feathers would lead one to suppose that they have an influence on the aérial movements of the birds; but, strange to say, this remarkable feature only occurs in the males; the females are entirely destitute of it. It might naturally be supposed that such a: modification of so important an organ must be formed with an especial object. What, then, can be the particular use of the broad dilated shafts of these singularly and apparently awkwardly shaped wings? Generally the primaries and secondaries are of a sombre and uniform hue, while the shoulders or wing-coverts, in most instances, are of the same coloar as the other parts of the body. There are, however, a few, but a very few exceptions to the rule; and I may mention the Eulampis jugularis and Pterophanes Temmincki as instances in point: both these birds have luminous wings, and must form very striking objects during

i

4‘

flight ; and, as I believe colour is seldom given without the intention | of its being exhibited, there is doubtless something peculiar in the | economy of these birds. The primaries and secondaries are in some ~

instances stiff and rigid, while in others they are soft and yielding ; some are broad, others narrow ; they are always the same in number, and the first quill is constantly the longest, except in Polytmus cephalater, where the second exceeds the first in length.

_ When we turn to the bill, we find this organ to be greatly diver- sified in form, and that each of these variations appears to be specially adapted for some given purpose ; indeed, I have never seen the law of adaptation more beautifully exemplified than in the multiplied forms exhibited in the bills of the members of the various genera of this family of birds. A certain generic character runs through the whole of them; the gape in all cases is very small, and whether the bill be curved or straight, the upper mandible overlaps the under one on both sides, and thus forms an admirable protection for the delicate double- tubed tongue. If we examine the extraordinarily lengthened bill of Docimastes ensifer and the short feeble bill of the Lesbia Gouldi, we see the extremes as regards the length of this organ ; and we are net less astonished at the functions they are both intended to perform. The bill of the D. ensifer, which is nearly six inches long, and which contains a tongue capable of being protruded nearly as far beyond its

tip, is most admirably fitted for the exploration of the lengthened_

and pendent corollas of the Brugmansie; while the short-billed Lesbie | cling to the upper portion of those flowers, pierce their bases, and — with the delicate feelers at the extremities of the tongue, readily |

secure the insects which there abound. I have been assured by M.

Bourcier that this is really a practice of the bird, and that it fre- | quently resorts to this device for the purpose of gaining its insect |

food; but I suspect that, besides exploring the stalwart Brugmansia, a more delicate flora is the object for which its bill is especially formed. In no part of America are so many tubular-flowered plants as among the Andes, and the greater number of the Humming- Birds found there have straight and lengthened bills, such as the members of the genera Helianthea, Bourcieria, Celigena, etc. The arched bills of the Phaéthornithes are admirably adapted for securing the insects which resort to the leaves of trees, and upon which these birds are said to exist. But how much are we astonished, when we examine the bill of Hutoveres! and find this organ curved down- wards beyond the extent of a semicircle, a form beautifully adapted for exploring the scale-covered stems of the larger palms.

Let us turn to another genus of this group—Grypus. Here the bill is not only armed with a strong hook at the end of the man- dibles, but with a row of numerous and thickly set teeth. The G. nevius is said to frequent the borders of the great forests, and to gain its food from among the interstices of the bark of the palm trees, Both this bird and the utoweres, aswell as the Phaéthornithes, aresaid (and, I believe, with truth) to feed principally upon spiders; and we know that these are the food of the Grypus. All the members of the genus Ramphomicron are said to feed on insects which inhabit the

c2

ait mereee

16

alpine Flore; and their bill is well suited to the capture of the minute insects found in those elevated regions. In some instances the bill is perfectly wedge-shaped, as in Heliothrix ; while in others it sud- denly turns upwards, as in dvocettula. ‘These forms are also adapted for some special purpose, of which, however, at present we are igno- rant. Besides these, there are others whose bills approach somewhat to the form of the flycatchers, as the dithurus. This bird we know frequently seizes insects on the wing; and so doubtless do many of the others. It will have been seen that all these forms of bill are well suited for the capture of insects; and, as might be supposed, insects constitute the principal food of the Humming-Bird; but that liquid honey, the pollen and other saccharine parts of flowers are also partaken of is evident from the double tubular tongue with which all the species are provided. Besides this they readily and greedily accept this kind of food when offered to them in a state of captivity, or when the corollas of a bouquet of flowers placed in a window are filled with sugar to entice them to approach ; and from my own ex- perience I know that they have been kept in captivity for several months upon this kind of food.

Connected intimately with the mode of flight is the form and structure of the tail, and in no group of birds is this organ more varied ; in some species it is four times the length of the body, in others it is so extremely short as to be entirely hidden by the coverts. Ais cases in point I may mention Lesbia Amaryllis and Calothoraa micrurus. HKvery Humming-Bird, however, has ten tail-feathers, and no more. Iam aware that this number is not apparent in some of the smaller fork-tailed species, the two centre-feathers being so ex- ceedingly minute as to be almost obsolete; but if a careful exami- nation be made, that number will be found. I may instance Thaumastura Core, T. enicura, and Calothorax Fannie.

The tail appears to be, and doubtless is, a very important organ in all the aérial movements of the Trochilide; and accordingly we find very great variations in its form among the many different genera of which the family is composed. In Cometes and Lesbia, the forked character is carried to its maximum, while its minimum is seen in Ca- lothorax, Acestrura, and the allied groups. The tails of all the mem- bers of the two former and many other genera are of this form ; while in others it is only seen in a single species of a group, all the other members of which have rounded, square, or cuneate tails. As a case in point I may cite Hupetomena hirundinacea, among the Campy- loptert, which may be regarded as the aérial type of its own particular group. Next to this we may notice the species with feathers termi- nating in spatules, such as Loddigesia, Spathura, etc. I was informed by the late Mr. Dyson that the flight of these birds presents a marked difference from that of other Humming-Birds, and that their appearance in the air is most singular,—the tail being not only con- stantly opened and shut, but the spatules always in motion, par- ticularly when the bird is poising over a flower; and if this be really true, what an extraordinary appearance must the Loddigesia mirabilis present during its evolutions! But we cannot attempt to

17

describe it; the discovery of a second. example,.and the peculiarity of its flight, must be left for future historians to make known to us.

In some few instances, such as Juliamyia typica and Campylopte- rus Pampa, the tails are cuneate ; but this form is quite exceptional if we exclude the Phaéthornithes and Eutoxeres, in which this is the prevailing form. Besides the groups with forked or cuneate tails,

there are others in which this organ 1s square OF rounded, as in the Florisuge and Metallure. The reverse of the spatulate form occurs in some species, such as the members of the genus Gouldia, in which the tip of the outer tail-feathers terminates in thread-like filaments. The citation of one more will be sufficient to show how widely different is the form of this organ among the various genera. The outer feathers of the Oreotrochili are narrow, rigid, and turned. inwards: this calliper-like form one might suppose would assist, in combination with the lengthened hind toe and claw, in supporting the bird on the sides of rocks; and we find that this is really the case ; for Mr. Fraser informs me that he has seen several of the Oreotrochilus Pichincha clinging, half-benumbed with cold, on a ledge of rocks during one of the frequent snow-storms which occur on Pichincha. Quinarians would pronounce this to be the scansorial type among Humming-Birds. Now I think we may fairly infer that many of the other structures above alluded to are equally adapted for some peculiar purpose; yet there must be exceptions to this hypothesis, — since the structure of the caudal feathers is in many instances totally | different in the two sexes of the same species.

Nothing has yet been said respecting the legs and feet. Diminutive as they are, they will be found to be very diversified. In some instances the tarsi are bare, in others they are thickly clothed, as in the Erio- cnemides ; in some the toes are very diminutive, and are furnished with equally small, rounded nails; in others all the toes, particularly the hinder one, are greatly developed and armed with long, curved, and extremely sharp, spine-like claws. This latter form is admirably adapted for clinging to the petals of flowers—a habit common to many members of the family, which not only settle upon, but thrust their spiny bills through the bell-shaped flowers. ‘The power these little birds possess of clinging to the branches is very remarkable : they hang on with their little feet and hooked claws like bats, with such pertinacity that I was often fearful of dislucating the legs of my living birds when attempting to remove them from their perch.

I may mention here, although somewhat out of place, that the skins of Pterophanes Temminckt have a strong musky smell, very similar to that exhaled by the Petrels. I consider this merely a coincidence; for although I am aware that many species of Humming- Birds fly close to the surface of water, they are merely hawking for insects among the aquatic plants peculiar to such situations.

It is the great diversity of forms in this family of birds which renders the study of them so very interesting. If these little ob- jects were magnified to the size of Hagles, their structural differences would stand out in very bold relief, and the many marked generic distinctions they present would be far more clearly perceptible,

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18

The members of most of the genera have certain parts of their plumage fantastically decorated; and in many instances most re-

. Splendent in colour. My own opinion is, that this gorgeous colour-

\ ing of the Humming-Birds has been given for the mere purpose of

| ornament, and for no other purpose of special adaptation in their | mode of life—in other words, that ornament and beauty merely as such was the end proposed—especially when we remember that the plumage of Humming-Birds seems to follow a general rule in the

subordination and contrast with which the colours are arranged. These extraordinary developments are nearly always confined to the male, and are, doubtless, bestowed upon these little gems as a gorgeous train is given to the Peacock, beautiful markings to the Polyplectron, &c. I know of no others but the two species of the genus Cephalepis in which a single feather is made to serve the purpose of ornament. In all other instances the feathers are disposed in pairs, or in equal number on either side of the head or body, as the case may be ; but in both these species the crest terminates in a single plume, which greatly adds to the elegance of the slender topping. How splendid are the spangles which deck the neck-plumes of the Lophornithes! and how well do the blue ear-tufts of the Petasophore harmonize with the surrounding greeh of the neck! The genera Oxypogon and Ramphomicron may be cited as singular instances of ornamentation ; for they are both bearded and crested. Independently of these extra- developed portions of the plumage, certain parts of the body are gorgeously coloured; and here, again, some curious features are observable. In very many instances the crowns are truly resplendent, as in Heliodoxa; while in Helianthea the forehead only is decorated with a star brighter than Venus, the queen-of planets.

All the members of the genus Heliangelus:.are remarkable for their beautiful gorgets, succeeded by acrescent of white separating it from the green of the under surface. Some species of the Erio- enemides, beside their thickly clothed tarsi, have rich and luminous upper tail coverts; while others, such as the Erioenemis Aline, have the under tail-coverts unsurpassingly brilliant and beautiful. The members of the genus Auyastes are conspicuous for the shining, metal- like masks with which their faces are adorned ; while, differing from all these, the Agleactines have the lower part of their backs clothed

in armour-like feathers, the brilliancy of which must be seen to be understood, but which, strange to say, is only apparent when viewed from behind; for if looked at in the direction of the feather, none

19

of these hues ‘are perceptible. Many more instances besides these might be mentioned ; but a reference to the plates on which they are represented, or, still better, the birds themselves, will give a more correct idea of these remarkable colourings than can be conveyed by any description. ‘

Before leaving the subject of extra development, I may mention | that I often find it carried to a greater extent in some one species of a genus than in the others. I will give an example of what I here intend, by reference to what is observable in another family of birds, the Trogonide. Tere the extra development of the upper tail- coverts which occurs in members of the genus Pharomacrus, com- mences in the P. pavoninus, increases in the P. antisianus, and extends beyond the tail in P. auriceps ; but no species with upper tail-coverts of intermediate length between those of the last-mentioned species and the immensely long plumes of P. paradiseus, appears to - exist. In like manner among the Andean Humming-Birds there is a tendency to a gradual increase in the length of the bill to the extent of two or two and a half inches ; but no species has yet been seen in which that organ is intermediate between that length and the extraordi-: narily developed bill of Docimastes, which measures at least five inches. A similar fact is also observable with respect to the spa- tules in the Spathure.

Apart from development, I observe that in the Humming-Birds, as

in some other groups to which I have paid particular attention, the f

species of one genus are much more numerous than those of others, and that, whenever this is the case, the genus usually comprises many closely allied species.

Among the most pleasing recollections of our youthful days is that of a birds’ nest. Where is the person who has lived in the country and paid any attention to natural history, that does not recollect that of the Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor modularis) with its beautiful blue eges; or has he ever ceased to wonder at the surprising construction of the nest of the Bottle-Tit (Mecistura caudata)? Their domestic architecture is indeed among the most interesting of the many singu- lar features in the economy of birds; and how truly wonderful are some of the nests of the Humming-Birds! In form and size they vary as much as the different structures of the birds would lead us to expect, and a similar difference occurs in the situations in which they are placed. Some of these cradles are not larger than the half of a walnut-shell, and these coracle-shaped structures are among the neatest and most beautiful. The members of the | Trochilus and their allies’ expend the greatest ingenuity, not so much in their constructions i the lavish decoration of theit outer \/ walls; with the utmost ‘taste do these birds instinctively fasten | thereon beautiful pieces of flat lichen, the larger pieces in the middle and the smaller on the part attached to the branch. Itis-a-question among omithologists whether-these adornments~are fixed on-by a glutinous secretion from the bird or by the invisible webs of some of the smaller kinds of spiders ; my own belief is, that-the latter is the means employed. Nowand then a pretty feather is intertwined or fastened

Z,. Mow

20

to the outer side, the stem being always so placed that the feather stands out beyond the surface. These little cup-shaped nests are frequently placed on the bifurcation of the horizontal part of a branch near the ground, and at other times higher up towards the summit. Quite the reverse of this kind of nest are those built by the Phaé- thornithes: these latter are generally very frail structures, woven round and attached to the side of a drooping palm-leaf, very frequently overhanging water. Such a nest is figured in my plate of P. Eury- nome. Another of a similar form but of different materials is figured in the same volume in the plate illustrative of P. Eremita, with two young ones therein.

Other Humming-Birds suspend their nests to the sides of rocks. These are hammock-shaped in form, and are most ingeniously attached to the face of the rock by means of spiders’ webs and the cottony materials of which they are sometimes built, Those made by the Oreotrochili, are very large, and composed of wool, llama hair, moss, and feathers; at the top of this great mass, of nearly the size of a child’s head, is a little cup-shaped depression in which the eggs are deposited. Respecting the nest made by the Oreo- trochilus Pichincha, my friend Professor Jameson, of Quito, writes, “On the first of the present month (November 1858), I visited the snowy mountain of Antisana in company with the American Minister. In the celebrated farm-house (about 13,500 feet above the sea) I found in one of the lower or ground apartments, unprovided with a door, several nests of Oreotrochilus Pichincha, one of which was attached to a straw rope suspended from the roof. Iam quite certain as to the identity of the species, having shot one of the birds. The rest will be sent to you in my next parcel.” See the figure of this nest given by Dr. Sclater in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society,’ 1860, p. 80.

Some of the Humming-Birds, and perhaps this very species, are said to suspend their great nests by the middle from the fine hanging root of a tree, or a tendril; and should the nest, which is of a curved form and built of any coarse materials at hand, prove to be heavier on one side than the other, the higher side is weighted with a small stone or square piece of earth until an equilibrium is established and the eggs prevented from rolling out. If such powers so nearly ap- proaching to that of reason should be doubted by some of my readers, I can assure them that one or more of these loaded nests are con- tained in the Loddigesian Collection; and one is at this moment before me, an examination of which will satisfy the most sceptical of the truth of this statement. Occasionally the old nests are repaired or built over the old one, two, three or more years in succession. Many other instances might be given to show that the nidification of the Humming-Birds is as singular as are the birds themselves. I believe that generally the eggs are two in number, but I also think it likely that some of the Phaéthornithes, or rather the members of the genus Glaucis, occasionally lay but one; for I have frequently seen only a single young bird in the nests sent to this country, and this single bird generally filled up the entire space of the frail structure, which, as I have before stated, is usually attached to the

ae es

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leaflet of a palm. The eggs are certainly large when we consider the tiny size of the birds which produce them ; in shape they are oblong, nearly alike in form at both ends, and are probably of a pinkish hue before their contents are removed; after which they become of an opaque white, and so closely resemble bon-bons that they might easily be mistaken for them. The birds are said to pro- duce two broods a year ; and the period of incubation generally oc- cupies about twelve or fourteen, or, according to Captain Lyon, eighteen days. This gentleman, when giving an account of some Humming-Birds whose hatching and education he sedulously watched, as the nest was made in a little orange-bush by the side of a fre- quented walk in his garden at Gongo Soco, in Brazil, states that the nest “was composed of the silky down of a plant, and covered with small flat species of yellow lichen. The first egg was laid January 26th, the second on the 28th; and two little creatures like bees made their appearance on the morning of February 14th. As the young increased in size, the mother built her nest higher and higher. The old bird sat very close during a continuance of heavy rain for several days and nights. The young remained blind until February 28th, and flew on the morning of March 7th, without previous practice, as strong and swiftly as the mother, taking their first dart from the nest to a tree about twenty yards distant.”

Let me now mention one of the devices employed for the discovery of the nest of the Humming-Birds. Every observer who has written upon them has not failed to descant upon their boldness and pugnacity : not only do they attack birds of much larger size than themselves, but it is even asserted that they will tilt at the Eagle if he approaches within the precinctsof the nest ; nor is man exempt from their assaults, of which an amusing instance will be found in the extract from Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley’s ‘Travels’ given on a subsequent page.

It is this readiness for combat which is taken advantage of to find the nest and eggs, and all that is necessary is to tie a string to your hat, and wave it round your head, when, if a female be sitting in the neighbourhood, the male wili instantly come down upon you; and by watching his return the nest may be detected.

Many really absurd statements have been made as to the means by which these birds are obtained for our cabinets. It is most fre- quently asserted that they are shot with water or with sand. Now, so far as I am aware, these devices are never resorted to, but they are usually procured in the ordinary ‘way, with numbers ten and eleven shot, those being the sizes best suited for the purpose. If smaller shot be used, the plumage is very frequently so cut and damaged that the Specimen is rendered of little or no value. By far the greater number fall to the clay ball of the blowpipe, which the Indians, and in some instances even Europeans use with perfect certainty of aim. My friend Professor Jameson has a son who appears to be a proficient in this mode of obtaining Humming-Birds, as I know that many of the specimens he has sent me have been thus procured.

In Brazil very fine nets are employed for this purpose, but how: this engine is employed I am unable to state ; unfortunately for me

22

many specimens of the fine species Cometes sparganurus in my pos- session have been obtained by means of birdlime, and this is evidently the way in which these birds are captured in the neighbourhood of Chuquisaca.

That the Humming-Bird is not altogether denied the power of song we learn from the notices respecting its vocalization by various authors; but as this is a point upon which I cannot speak from personal observation, I shall take the liberty of quoting from those who have written on the subject. To begin with the remarks of my friend Mr. W. C. L. Martin :—

“It is not to the most beautiful birds that the voice of melody is given. The Mocking-Bird, the Nightingale, and the Thrush, are but plainly attired; and it would appear that if Nature be lavish in one respect, she is parsimonious in another. On the Humming-Birds she has bestowed the gift of heauty—she has created them winged gems— she has chased their plumage with burnished metals or overspread it with laminze of topaz and emerald—she has strained, so to speak, at every variety of effect—she has revelled in an infinitude of modifi- cations, whether we look at the hues or the development of the feathering. We can scarcely, then, expect that, to such an external perfection, the gift of song will be also added; and, indeed, when we reflect upon the structure of the tongue, of the os hyoides which supports its base, and of the mechanism by which it is rendered capable of protrusion, remembering that the os hyoides is connected with the larynx, we cannot in reason suppose that these birds can be eminent as songsters. Nevertheless it would appear that some species at least utter, while perched, a sort of querulous warble.

“The ordinary cry of the Humming-Birds is sharp and shrill, generally uttered on the wing, and frequently reiterated by the males during their combats with each other. It is principally, says Lesson, in passing from one place to another, that their ery, which he likens to the syllables ¢ére-tére, articulated with more or less force, is ex- cited. Most frequently, he says, they are completely dumb; and he adds that he has passed whole hours in observing them in the forests of Brazil without having heard the slightest sound proceed from their throats.”’

Mr. Gosse, in his ‘ Birds of Jamaica,’ speaking of a species which he calls the Vervain Humming-Bird (the Mellisuga minima of this work), says, “The present is the only Humming-Bird that I am ac- quainted with that has a real song. Soon after sunrise, in the spring months, it is fond of sitting on the topmost branch of a mango or orange-tree, where it warbles in a very weak, but very sweet tone, a continuous melody for ten minutes at a time; it has little variety. The others only utter a pertinacious chirping.”

It will be expected that some remarks should now be made with regard to the luminous character of certain parts of the plumage of these charming birds—a point which has engaged the attention of many naturalists and physiologists, but of which I believe no very satisfactory solution has yet been attained. “A few days since,” says Mr, Martin, “we were examining a Humming-Bird, the

23

gorget of which was an intense emerald-green, but on changing the light (that is altering its angle of incidence) the emerald was changed. into velvet-black. Audebert considered this changeableness to be due to the organization of the feathers, and to the manner in which the luminous rays are reflected on falling upon them ; and of this we think there ean be little doubt, for each feather, when minutely inspected, exhibits myriads of little facets so disposed as to present so many angles to the incidence of light, which will be diversely reflected according to the position of the feather, and im some positions not reflected in any sensible degree, and thus emerald may become a velvet-black. _

“ Lesson supposes that the brilliant hues of the plumage of the Humming-Birds are derived from some elements contained in the blood, and elaborated by the circulation—a theory we do not quite understand, inasmuch as colour is the result of the reflection of some rays and the absorption of others, caused by the arrange- ment of the molecules of any given body. He adds, however, that the texture of the plumes plays the principal part, in consequence of the manner in which the rays of light traverse them, or are reflected by the innumerable facets which a prodigious quantity of barbules or fibres present. All the scaly feathers, he observes, which simulate velvet, the emerald, or the ruby, and which we see on the head and throat of the Epimachi (as the Grand Promerops of New Guinea), the Paradise-Birds, and the Humming-Birds, resemble each other in the uniformity of their formation; all are composed of cylindrical barbules, bordered with other analogous regular barbules, which, in their turn, support other small ones, and all of them are hollowed in the centre with a deep furrow, so that when the light, as Audebert first remarked, glides in a vertical direction over the scaly feathers, the result is that all the luminous rays are absorbed in traversing them, and the perception of black is produced. But it is no longer the same when the light is reflected from these feathers, each of which performs the office of areflector; then it is that the aspect of the emerald, the ruby, &c. varying with the utmost diversity under the incidences of the rays which strike them, is given out by the molecular arrangement of the barbules. It is thus that the gorget

of many species takes all the hues of green, and then the brightest

and most uniformly golden tints down to intense velvet-black, or, on the contrary, that of ruby, which darts forth pencils of light, or passes from reddish orange to a crimsoned red-black.

“It is thus, we think, that the everchanging hues of the gorgets of the Humming-Birds from black to emerald, ruby, crimson, or

: s 29 flame colour are to be explained.

In a note just received from Dr. Davy, dated Ambleside, June 10, 1861, that gentleman says :—“ I have examined with the microscope the feathers of the Humming-Bird, Agleactis cupripennis, you en- trusted to me, which is so remarkable for its rich colours as seen in one direction, and only one. The result is merely the following— viz., that those feathers in which this peculiarity is most strongly marked are membranous, terminating in pointed filaments, set on

24

obliquely, so that looking from the head each feather is only par- tially seen. This result, I apprehend, will help very little to account for the peculiarity in question. Its explanation’ must be sought (must it not?) inthe higher optics.”

“As to the question you ask me about the beautiful play of colours in the Humming-Birds,” says Dr. Stevelly, **T have never studied the subject, and I should greatly fear to say anything about it, par- ticularly if what I said were to be looked on as of any authority.

“There are two optical principles only which I can see to be any way concerned in such an effect. One is the cause of the play of colours in mother-of-pearl, and which Brewster proved to arise from very fine striated rulings, the distance between the parallel lines not being greater than from the 10,000th to the 100,000th of an inch. Barton, of Birmingham, imitated this by ruling very fine parallel lines on steel dies, and then impressing these on buttons, which showed very beautiful colours when exposed to strong light. The other optical principle, which I think, however, to be the most likely to produce the effect in the case of feathers, is the influence of thin plates. If you know Mr. Gassiot (one of your leading Royal Insti- tution savants) get him to show you some of his copper-plates, on which by an electrotype process he has had very thin films of lead deposited ; and I think you will see colours fully as beautiful, though not as varied or as variable in different aspects as those of the Hum- ming-Bird,”’ j

It may not be out of place now to give a few extracts from the works of those authors who have written on the Trochilide in gene- ral or on some particular species. A perusal of these will tend to confirm much that I have said ; and it is but fair that the writings of those who have wielded the pen in elucidation of the history, habits, and manners of these lovely birds should be duly recognized,

It is fortunate for the science of Ornithology that so many persons gifted with the power of expressing their ideas in elegant and poetical Janguage should have bestowed a large share of their attention upon the Humming-Bird. The writings of Buffon, Wilson, Waterton, Audubon, Gosse, and others, treating exclusively on natural history, are not, perhaps, so generally known as they ought to be; the extracts from these authors will therefore, I doubt not, be found of interest.

“ Of all animated beings,” says Buffon, “ this is the most elegant in form and the most brilliant’ in colour. The stones and metals polished by art are not comparable to this gem of nature: she has placed it in the order of birds, but among the tiniest of the race— maxime miranda in minimis; she has loaded it with all the gifts of which she has only given other birds a share. Agility, rapidity, nimbleness, grace, and rich attire, all belong to this little favourite, The emerald, the ruby, and the topaz, glitter in its garb, which is never soiled with the dust of earth ; for, leading an aérial life, it rarely touches the turf even for an instant. Always in the air flying from flower to flower, it shares their freshness and their splendour, lives on their nectar, and only inhabits those climates in which they are

25

unceasingly renewed. ‘The Humming-Bird seems to follow the sun, to advance, to retire with him, and to fly on the wings of the wind in pursuit of an eternal spring.”

“* Nature in every department of her works,” says Wilson, *‘ seems to delight in variety; and the present subject is almost as singular for its minuteness, beauty, want of song, and manner of feeding, as the preceding (the Mocking-Bird) is for unrivalled excellence of notes and plainness of plumage. This is one of the few birds that are universally beloved ; and amidst the sweet dewy serenity of a Summer’s morning, his appearance among the arbours of honey- suckles and beds of flowers is truly interesting.

« When morning dawns, and the blest sun again Lifts his red glories from the eastern main, Then through our woodbines, wet with glittering dews, The flower-fed Humming-Bird his round pursues ; Sips with inserted tube the honied blooms, And chirps his gratitude as round he roams ; While richest roses, though in crimson drest, Shrink from the splendour of his gorgeous breast. What heavenly tints in mingling radiance fly! Each rapid movement gives a different dye ; Like scales of burnished gold they dazzling show— Now sink to shade, now like a furnace glow!”

‘«‘ Where is the person,’’ says Audubon, speaking of the Trochilus colubris, ‘‘ who, on seeing this lovely little creature moving on hum- ming winglets through the air, suspended as if by magic in it, flit- ting from one flower to another, with motions as graceful as they are light and airy, pursuing its course and yielding new delights wherever it is seen—where is the person, I ask, who, on observing this glitter- ing fragment of the rainbow, would not pause, admire, and turn his mind with reverence towards the Almighty Creator, the wonders of whose hand we at every step discover, and of whose sublime concep- tions we everywhere observe the manifestations in his admirable system of creation? There breathes not such a person; so kindly have we all been blessed with that intuitive and noble feeling— admiration.

‘I wish it were in my power to impart to you, kind reader, the pleasures which I have felt while watching the movements and viewing the manifestations of feelings displayed by a single pair of these most favourite little creatures, when engaged in the demonstration of their love for each other ;—how the male swells his plumage and throat, and, dancing on the wing, whirls around the delicate female ; how quickly he dives towards a flower, and returns with a loaded bill, which he offers to her to whom alone he desires to be united ; how full of ecstacy he seems to be when his caresses are kindly received ; how his little wings fan her as they fan the flowers, and he transfers to her bill the insect and the honey which he has procured with a View to please her ; how these attentions are received with apparent Satisfaction; how, soon after, the blissful compact is sealed; how, then, the courage and care of the male is redoubled ; how he even dares

26

to give chase to the tyrant Flycatcher, hurriés the Blue-Bird and the Martin to their boxes ; and how, on sounding pinions, he joyously returns to the side of his lovely mate. Reader, all these proofs of the sincerity, fidelity, and courage with which the male assures his mate of the care he will take of her while sitting on her nest, may be seen, have been seen, but cannot be pourtrayed or de- scribed.

“ Could you cast a momentary glance on the nest of the Humming- Bird and see, as I have seen, the newly hatched pair of young, little larger than humble-bees, naked, blind, and so feeble ag scarcely to be able to raise their little bill to receive food from the parents ; and could you see those parents full of anxiety and fear, passing and re- passing within a few inches of your face, alighting on a twig not more than a yard from your body, waiting the result of your unwelcome visit in a state of the utmost despair, you could not fail to be im- pressed with the interest of the scene. “Then how pleasing it is, on your leaving the spot, to see the returning hope of the parents when, after examining the nest, they find their nestlings untouched ! These are the scenes best fitted to enable us to partake of sorrow and joy, and to determine every one who views them to make it his study to contribute to the happiness of others, and to refrain from wantonly or maliciously giving them pain.

“ A person standing in a garden by the side of a common Althea in bioom, will be surprised to hear the humming of their wings, and then see the birds themselves within a few feet of him, as he will be astonished at the rapidity with which the little creatures rise into the air, and are out of sight and hearing the next moment.

“No bird seems to resist their attacks; but they are sometimes chased by the larger kinds of humble-bees, of which they seldom take the least notice, as their superiority of flight is sufficient to enable them to leave those slow-moving insects far behind in the short space of a minute.

“If comparison might enable you to form some tolerably accurate idea of their peculiar mode of flight, and their appearance when on the wing, I should say that, were both objects of the same colour, a large Sphinz or moth when moving from one flower to another, and in a direct line, comes nearer the Humming-Bird in aspect than any other object with which I am acquainted.”’— Audubon, Ornithological Bio- graphy, vol. i. p. 248, &e. For the other portions of Wilson’s and Audubon’s very interesting observations, I must refer my readers to my account of Trochilus colubris.

“Though least in size,” remarks Mr. Waterton, “ the glittering mantle of the Humming-Bird entitles it to the first place in the list of the birds of the New World. It may truly be called the Bird of Paradise ; and had it existed in the Old World it would have claimed the title, instead of the bird which has now the honour to bear it. See it darting through the air almost as quick as thought !—now it is within a yard of your face !—in an instant it is gone !—now it flutters from flower to flower to sip the silver dew—it is now a rub —now a topaz—now an emerald—now all burnished gold! It would

27

be arrogant to pretend to describe this winged gem of nature after Buffon’s elegant description of it.

‘Cayenne and Demerara produce the same Humming-Birds. Perhaps you would wish to know something of their haunts. Chiefly in the months of July and August, the tree called Bois Immortel, very common in Demerara, bears abundance of red blossom, which stays on the tree for some weeks ; then it is that most of the species of Humming-Birds are very plentiful. The wild red sage (Salvia splendens) is also their favourite shrub ; and they buzz like bees round the blossom of the Wallaba-tree ; indeed there is scarce a flower in the interior, or on the sea-coast, but what receives frequent visits from one or other of the species.

** On entering the forests of the rising land in the interior, the blue and green, the smallest brown, no bigger than the humble-bee, with two long feathers in the tail, and the little forked-tail purple-throated Humming-Birds glitter before you in everchanging attitudes.

“Ags you advance towards the mountains of Demerara, other Species of Humming-Birds present themselves before you. It seems to be an erroneous opinion that the Humming-Bird lives entirely on honey-dew. Almost every flower of the tropical climate contains in- sects of one kind or other ; now the Humming-Bird is most busy about the flowers an hour or two after sun-rise, and after a shower of rain; and it is just at this time that the insects come out to the edge of the flower in order that the sun’s rays may dry the nocturnal dew and rain which they have received. On opening the stomachs of the Humming-Bird dead insects are almost always found there.”’

“The Humming-Birds in Jamaica,” says Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley in her Travels, “are lovely little creatures, and most won- derfully tame and fearless of the approach of man. One of these charming feathered jewels had built its delicate nest close to one of the walks of the garden belonging to the house where we were staying. ‘The branch, indeed, of the beautiful little shrub in which this fairy nest was suspended almost intruded into the walk; and every time we sauntered by there was much danger of sweeping against this projecting branch with its precious charge, and doing it some injury, as very little would have demolished the exquisite fabric ; m process of time, two lovely little pear-like eggs had ap- peared; and while we were there we had the great pleasure of seeing the minute living gems themselves appear, looking like two very small bees. The mother-bird allowed us to look closely at her in the nest, and to inspect her little nurslings, when she was flying about near, without appearing in the least degree disconcerted or alarmed. I never saw so tame or so bold a little pet. But she did not allow the same liberties to be taken by everybody unchecked. One day, as Sir C was walking in the pretty path beside which the fragile nest was delicately suspended amid sheltering leaves, he paused, in order to look at its Lilliputian inhabitants. While thus engaged, he felt suddenly a sharp light rapping on the crown of his hat, which considerably surprised him. He looked round to ascer-

28

tain from whence the singular and unexpected attack proceeded : but nothing was to be seen. Almost thinkmg he must have been mis- taken, he continued his survey; when a much sharper and louder rat-tat-tat-tat-tat seemed to demand his immediate attention, and a little to jeopardize the perfect integrity and preservation of the fabric in question. Again he looked round, far from pleased at such extra- ordinary impertinence ; when what should he see but the beautiful delicate Humming-Bird, with ruffled feathers and fiery eyes, who seemed by no means inclined to let him off without a further infliction of sharp taps and admonitory raps from her fairy beak. She looked like a little fury in miniature—a winged Xantippe. Those pointed attentions apprised him that his company was not desired or accep- table ; and, much amused at the excessive boldness of the dauntless little owner of the exquisite nest he had been contemplating, Sir C moved off, anxious not to disturb or irritate further this valiant minute mother, who displayed such intrepidity and cool deter- mination. As to V and me, the darling little pet did not mind us in the least; she allowed us to watch her to our hearts’ content during the uninterrupted progress of all her little household and domestic arrangements, and rather appeared to like our society than not, and to have the air of saying, ‘Do you think I manage it well, eh ites 33

“I cannot quit the subject,” says the Reverend Lansdown Guilding, “without speaking of the delight that was afforded me, in Jamaica, by seeing Humming-Birds feeding on honey in the florets of the great Aloe (Agave Americana, Linn.) On the side of a hill upon Sutton’s Estate (the property of Heury Dawkins, Esq.) were a con- siderable number of aloe plants, of which about a dozen were in full blossom. They were spread over aspace of about twenty yards square. The spikes bearing bunches of flowers in a thyrsus, were from twelve to fifteen feet high ; on each spike were many hundred flowers of a bright yellow colour, each floret of a tubular shape and containing a good-sized drop of honey. Such an assemblage of floral splendour was in itself most magnificent and striking; but it may be imagined how much the interest caused by this beautiful exhibition was in- creased by vast numbers of Humming-Birds, of various species flut- tering at the opening of the flowers, and dipping their bills first into one floret and then into another,—the sun, as usual, shining bright upon their varied and beautiful plumage. The long-tailed or Bird- of- Paradise Humming-Bird was particularly striking, its long feathers waving as it darted from one flower to another. I was so much de- lighted with this sight that I visited the spot again in the afternoon, after a very long and fatiguing day’s ride, accompanied by my wife, on horseback, when we enjoyed the scene before us for more than half- an-hour.”

The pugnacity of the Humming-Birds,”’ remarks Mr. Gosse, “ has been often spoken of; two of one species can rarely suck flowers from the same bush without a rencontre. I once witnessed a com- bat between two, which was prosecuted with much pertinacity, and protracted to an unusual length. It was in the month of April, when

29

I was spending a few days at Phoemix Park, near Savannah la Mar, the residence of my kind friend Aaron Deleon, Esq. In the garden were two trees, of the kind called Malay Apple (Hugenia Malae- censis), one of which was but a yard or two from my window. The genial influence of the spring rains had covered them with a profu- sion of beautiful blossoms, each consisting of a multitude of crimson stamens, with very minute petals, like bunches of crimson tassels ;

7 but the leaf-buds were only beginning to open. A Humming- Bird had every day and all day long been paying his devoirs to these charming blossoms. On the morning to which I allude another came, and the manceuvres of these two tiny creatures became very + interesting. They chased each other through the labyrinths of twigs

ic and flowers till, an opportunity occurring, the one would dart with

1s seeming fury upon the other, and then, with a loud rustling of their wings, they would twirl together, round and round, till they nearly came to the earth.. It was some time before I could see, with any , distinctness, what took place in these tussles ; their twirlings were so \ rapid as to baffle all attempts at discrimination. At length an en- |

counter took place pretty close to me, and I perceived that the beak

of the one grasped the beak of the other, an ‘thus fastened both

in triumph to the tree, where, perched on a lofty twig, he chirped | monotonously and pertinaciously for some time—I could not help thinking in defiance. In a few minutes, however, the banished one

returned and began chirping no less provokingly, which soon brought ° on another chase and another tussle. I am persuaded that these were hostile encounters ; for one seemed evidently afraid of the other, fleeing when the other pursued, though his indomitable spirit would prompt the chirp of defiance ; and when resting after a battle, I noticed that this one held his beak open, as if panting. Sometimes: they would suspend hostilities to suck a few blossoms, but mutual

proximity was sure to bring them on again, with the same result. m)

4 In their tortuous and rapid evolutions the light from their ruby necks i

would occasionally flash in the sun with gem-like radiance ; and as |

they now and then hovered motionless, the broadly expanded tail,

the outer feathers of which are crimson-purple, but when intercepting

the sun’s rays transmit orange-coloured light, added much to their

beauty. A little Banana Quit (Certhiola flaveola), that was peeping

among the blossoms in his own quiet way, seemed now and then to

look with surprise on the combatants ; but when the one had driven

his rival to a longer distance than usual, the vietor set upon the un-

offending Quit, who soon yielded the point, and retired, humbly

enough, to a neighbouring tree. The war (for it was a thorough

campaign, a regular succession of battles) lasted fully an hour, and

then I was called away from the post of observation. Both of the Humming-Birds appeared to be males.” 7

* All the Humming-Birds have more oF less the habit, when in

iy f | D

om

——

=e See

ESOT BE SA IIE REG Sh ag 2S SS aa eee

weak SSR SS

30

flight, of pausing in the air and throwing the body and tail into rapid and odd contortions. This is most observable in the Polytmus, from the effect that such motions have on the long feathers of the tail. That the object of these quick turns is the capture of insects I am sure, having watched one thus engaged pretty close tome. I observed it care- fully, and distinctly saw the minute flies in the air which it pursued and caught, and heard repeatedly the snapping of the beak. My presence scarcely disturbed it, if at all.”

In some notes on the ‘Habits of the Humming-Birds of the Amazon,’ kindly furnished me by Mr. Wallace, that gentleman says—

“The great number of species that frequent flowers, do so, I am convinced, for the small insects found there, and not for the nectar.

_ In dozens, and perhaps hundreds, of common flower-frequenting

species which I have examined, the crop, stomach, and intestines have been entirely filled with minute beetles, bees, ants, and spiders, which abound in most flowers in South America. Very rarely, in- deed, have I found a trace of honey or of any liquid in the crop or stomach. The flowers they most frequent are the various species of Inga, and the papilionaceous flowers of many large forest-trees. I have never seen them at the Bignonias or any flowers but those which grow in large masses covering a whole tree or shrub ; as they visit perhaps a hundred flowers ina minute and never stop at a single one. The little Emerald Hummer I have seen in gardens and at the com- mon orange Asclepias, which often covers large spaces of waste ground in the tropics. But there are many, such as Phaéthornis Eremita, and some larger allied species, which I have never seen at flowers. These inhabit the gloomy forest-shades, where they dart about among

‘the foliage, and I have distinctly observed them visit in rapid succes-

sion every leaf on a branch, balancing themselves vertically in the air, passing their beak closely over the under surface of each leaf, and thus capturing, no doubt, any small insects that may be upon them. While doing this the two long feathers of their tail have a vibrating motion, serving apparently as a rudder to assist them in performing the delicate operation. I have seen others searching up and down stems and dead sticks in the same manner, every now and then picking off something exactly as a Bush-strike, or a Tree-creeper does, with this exception that the Humming-Bird is constantly on the wing. They also capture insects in the true fissirostral manner. How often may they be seen perched on the dead twig of alofty tree—the same station that is chosen by the tyrant Flycatchers and the Jacamars, and from which, like those birds, they dart off a short distance and, after a few whirls and balancings, return to the identical twig they had left. In the evening too, just after sunset, when the Goat-suckers are beginning their search after insects over the rivers, I have seen Hum- ming-Birds come out of the forest and remain a long time on the wing, now stationary, now darting about with the greatest rapidity, imitating in a limited space the varied evolutions of their companions the Goat-suckers, and evidently for the same end and purpose. “‘Many naturalists have noticed this habit of feeding on insects, but have generally considered it as the exception, whereas I am inclined

31

to think it is the rule. The frequenting of flowers seems to me only one of the many ways by which they are enabled to procure their insect-food.”’

“ Wilson, Audubon, Mr. Gosse, and several others gifted with the.

‘pen of a ready writer,’”’ says Mr. Alfred Newton, “ have so fully described, as far as words will admit, the habits of different members of the family Trochilida, that it is unnecessary to say much upon this score. ‘Their appearance is so entirely unlike that of any other birds, that it is hopeless to attempt in any way to bring a just con- ception of it to the ideas of those who have not crossed the Atlantie ; and even the comparison so often made between them and the Sphin- gide, though doubtless in the main true, is much to the advantage of the latter. One is admiring the clustering stars of a scarlet Cordia, the snowy cornucopias of a Portlandia, or some other brilliant and beautiful flower, when between the blossom and one’s eye sud- denly appears a small dark object, suspended as it were between four short black threads meeting each other in a cross. For an instant it shows in front of the flower; an instant more, it steadies itself, and one perceives the space between each pair of threads occupied by a grey film ; again another instant, and emitting a momentary flash of emerald and sapphire light, it is vanishing, lessening in the distance, as it shoots away, to a speck that the eye cannot take note of,—and all this so rapidly that the word on one’s lips is still unspoken, scarcely the thought in one’s mind changed. It was a bold man or an ignorant one who first ventured to depict Humming-Birds flying ; but it cannot be denied that representations of them in that attitude are often of special use to the ornithologist. The peculiar action of one, and probably many or all other species of the family, is such, that at times, in flying, it makes the wings almost meet, both in. front and behind, at each vibration. Thus when a bird chances to enter a room, it will generally go buzzing along the cornice: standing beneath where it is, one will find that the axis of the body is vertical, and each wing is describing a nearly perfect semicircle. As might. be expected, the pectoral muscles are very large ; indeed the sternum of this bird is a good deal bigger than that of the common Chimney Swallow (Hirundo rustica, L.). But the extraordinary rapidity with which the vibrations are effected seems to be chiefly caused by these powerful muscles acting on the very short wing-bones, which are not half the length of the same parts in the Swallow; and ac- cordingly great as this alar action is, and in spite of the contrary Opinion entertained by Mr. Gosse (Nat. Sojourn in Jamaica, 240), it is yet sometimes wanting in power, owing doubtless to the dis- advantageous leverage thus obtained ; and the old authors must be. credited who speak of cobwebs catching Humming-Birds. . “On the 3rd of May, 1857, a bird of this species” (Lulampis chlorolemus, Gould) “ flew into the room where I was sitting, and, after fluttering for some minutes against the ceiling, came in contact _ with a deserted spider’s web, in which it got entangled, and re- mained suspended and. perfectly helpless for more than a minute, when by a violent effort it freed itself. I soon after caught it, still D2

32

having fragments of the web on its head, neck, and wings ; and I teel pretty sure that had this web been inhabited and in good repair, instead of being deserted and dilapidated, the bird would never have escaped.” —A. N. : ;

In his ‘Notes on the Humming-Birds of Guatemala,’ Mr. Salvin’ says, “ During the months of August and September the localities of the various species of Humming-Birds are usually as follows :— Among the trees on the south-eastern side of the lake” of Duejias “are Amazilia Devillei, Thaumastura henicura (mostly females), Campylopterus rufus, Heliomaster longirostris, Chlorostilbon Os- berti (in small number), Cyanomyia cyanocephala, and Trochilus colubris.

“On the hill-side to the south-westward of the lake are great numbers of Campylopterus rufus, and among the willows close to the water the males of Thaumastura henicura congregate. About the Convolvulus-trees in the llafio at the foot of the volcano are found Eugenes fulgens, Amazilia Devillei, Thaumastura henicura (in small numbers), T'rochilus colubris (very commonly towards the end of September).

“Entering the first barranco that opens out into the plain, we meet with Campylopterus rufus, Myiabeillia typica, H eliopedica melanotis, and a little higher up, Petasophora thalassina and Delattria viridi- pallens. Of course, occasionally a species is found not in its place as here indicated ; for instance, I have seen in the first locality a single specimen (the only female I have met with) of Eugenes fuigens, and another high in the voleano. I have also seen a single Petasophora thalassina out on the llafio. These localities must therefore be taken as only generally indicating the distribution of the species found about Duefas.”-—Jdis, vol. ii. p. 263.

At the moment of printing these pages, I have received a very in- teresting letter from my friend the Hon. G. W. Allan, of Moss Park, Toronto, in which the following passage occurs respecting the Tro- chilus colubris :—

“I wish you could have been with us last summer, you would have had an opportunity of watching your favourite Humming-Birds to your heart's content. I do not in the least exaggerate when I say that, during the time the horse-chestnuts were in flower, there were hundreds of these little tiny creatures about my grounds. While sitting in my li- brary I could hear their little sharp, querulous note, as the males fought like so many little bantam cocks with each other. On one large horse-chest.1ut tree, just at the corner of the house, they swarmed about the foliage like so many bees; and as the top branches of the tree were close to my bed-room windows, every now and then one bird, more bold than the rest, would dart into the open window and perch upon the wardrobe or the top of the bed-post.”

It will be expected that, in a monograph of a group of birds which have attracted so much notice, some account should be given of their internal structure, and as our well-known bird-anatomist, T. C. Eyton, Eisq., who has paid much attention to the subject, has given a very clear description of that of the largest species of the family—the

38

Patagona gigas—in Mr: Darwin's Zoology of the Voyage of H. M. 8. Beagle,’ I have much pleasure in transferring it to my pages :—

“Tongue bifid, each division pointed ; hyoids very long, in their position resembling those in the Picide (Woodpeckers) ; trachea of uniform diameter, destitute of muscles of voice ; bronchia very long ; cesophagus funnel-shaped, slightly contracted on approachmg the proventriculus, which is small and scarcely perceptible ; gizzard small, moderately muscular, the imner coat slightly hardened, and filled with the remains of insects; intestine largest near the gizzard ; I could not perceive a vestige of caca. Length of the cesophagus, including the proventriculus, 1} inch ; of the intestinal canal 33; length of the gizzard 3, breadth 3.

« Sternum with the keel very deep, its edge rounded and project- ing anteriorly ; posterior margin rounded, and destitute of indentation or fissure ; the ridges to which the pectoral muscles have their attach- ment large and prominent, the horizontal portion much narrowed anteriorly, consequently the junctions of the coracoids are very near together. ;

“Pelvis short, very broad; os pubis long, curved upwards at the extremities, projecting far downwards, and posteriorly beyond the termination of the caudal vertebree ; the ischiatie foramen small and linear ; femora placed far backwards; coracoids short, very strong,

their extremities much diverging ; os furcatum short, slightly arched

near the extremities of the rami, which are far apart, furnished with

only a small process on its approach to the sternum ; scapula flat-

tened, long, broadest near the extremity ; humerus, radius, and ulna short, the metacarpal bones longer than either ; the former furnished with ridges much elevated for the attachment of the pectoral mus- cles ; caudal and dorsal vertebree with the transverse processes long and expanded ; cranium of moderate strength, the occipital portion

- indented with two furrows, which pass over the vertex, and in which

the hyoids lie ; orbits large, divided by a complete bony septum ; the lacrymal bones large, causing an expansion of the bill near the nostrils.

«Number of cervical vertebree 10, dorsal 6, sacral 9, caudal 5; total 30. -

«‘ Number of true ribs 5, false 4; total 9.” _

Dr. Davy states that the blood-corpuscles of a recently killed Humming-Bird, examined by him in Barbadoes, ‘‘ were beautifully definite, regular and uniform. T he disk very thin, perfectly flat ; the nucleus slightly raised, and the two corresponding in outline. The corpuscles 1-2666th by 1-4000th of an inch, the long diameter of the nucleus very nearly 1-4000th. The blood was small in quantity, as I apprehend is the blood of birds generally, but not deficient in red corpuscles. I have found its temperature to be about 105 degrees.”

I have found it impossible to divide the Humming-Birds into more than two subfamilies—Phaéthornithine and Trochiline—for I find no such well-marked divisions among. them as will enable me

34

so to do; neither can I arrange them in anything like a continuous series ; so many gaps occur here and there, that one is almost led to the belief that many forms have either died out or have not yet been discovered ; consequently I am unable to commence with any one genus and arrange the remainder in accordance with their affinity. Whenever I have observed an apparent relationship be- tween two or more genera, they have been placed in contiguity, and the species which appear to be allied to each other are arranged in continuous succession. I do not consider one species more typical than another ; all are equally and beautifully adapted for the purposes they are intended to perform.

The following Synopsis will be found to contain a general view of the subject; and as it also comprises the additional information I have been able to obtain during the progress of the work, should always be consulted.

I shall now give the general characters by which the Trochilide are distinguished :—

Body small; longer than the

protrusion, and bifid at the tip; nostrils y an operculum ; wings lengthened, pointed, the first of which is the longest, except in the genus dithurus, where it is the second 3 pri- maries ten in number; tarsi and feet very diminutive ; tail con- sisting of ten feathers. ‘The entire structure adapted for aérial pro- gression.

Subfamily I. PHAETHORNITHINA.

I commence my first volume with that well-marked section of the family comprising the genera Grypus, Eutoxeres, Phaéthornis, and ° their allies. The members of all these genera are remarkable for being destitute of metallic brillianey, and, as their trivial name of “hermits ” implies, for affecting dark and gloomy situations. They constitute, perhaps, the only group of the great family of Humming- Birds which frequent the interior of the forests, and there obtain their insect food, some from the underside of the leaves of the great trees, while others assiduously explore their stems in search of such lurking insects as may be concealed in the crevices of the bark. It has been said that spiders constitute the food of many species of this group; and I believe that such ‘is the case, for we find the bills admirably adapted for their capture, particularly those of ‘Grypus and Eutoxeres. To individualize by name any particular country in South America in which these birds are found is un- necessary, for they are generally distributed over its temperate and hotter portions; but they are not to be met with either very far north or very far south of the equator; that is to say, their range is bounded northwardly by Southern Mexico, and southwardly by Bolivia. Within these limits, the high and the low lands are alike tenanted by them ;- but it isin the equatorial region that they are the

35

most numerous, and where all, or nearly all, the genera have repre- sentatives. In the colouring of their plumage the sexes are generally

alike. As a whole, they form a well-marked division distinguished [

by their own especial peculiarities of form and style of plumage.

Genus Gryrus, Spiz.

This form, which comprises two species, both natives of Brazil, is remarkable for the bill of the male being different in structure

from that of the female.

1. Grypus NEVIUS . Seen a, Bret Pen en Ue Pl. I.

Trochilus nevius, Dumont, Temm., Vieill., Drap., Burm.

—— squamosus, Licht.

Grypus ruficollis, Spix.

Mellisuga nevia, Steph.

Ramphodon maculatum, Less.

— nevius, Less., Jard.

Grypus nevius, Gray & Mitch., Bonap.

+ Phathornis nevius, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 152.

* Ramphodon nevius, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 15; Id. T roch. Enum. p. 12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 3.

Habitat. South-eastern Brazil.

9. Grypus Spixt, Gould - - + + + 2 tt 8 Vol. I. Pl. II.

* Ramphodon chrysurus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 15; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12? Habitat. Brazil.

The law of adaptation is perhaps equally carried out in every one of the multiplied forms, not only of ornithology, but of every other department of nature’s works, each being. constructed for some given purpose contributing to the well-being of the animal ; in some instances, however, particular developments are more striking and singular than in others. The form to which the generic name of Bu- toxeres has been given is a case in point. Of this remarkable genus two species are known, poth of which are natives of the Andes of Ecuador, New Granada, and Veragua. It would be most interesting to become acquainted with their peculiar modes of life, and to ascer- tain for what end their singularly curved bills were designed. Some persons affirm that it is for the purpose of probing the scaly covering of the upright stems of certain trees, and others for the exploration of peculiar cup-shaped flowers, such as that of the orchid which I have figured in the plate of Eutoxeres Aquila. Whatever may be the design, future research must determine it; all that we at present know is, that this form does exist, and that there is none other which

approaches to it. In size the two species are very similar, but there

are good and plain specific characters by which they may be distin-

- guished, and which will, I trust, be sufficiently apparent on reference

to the plates in which the birds are represented.

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Genus Evroxeres, Peichenb.

The oldest-known species of this form is the—

3. OVO aS GGA AE yoke we Se eo aa, Pi kit.

Trochilus Aquila, Lodd., Bourc. Politmus Aquila, Gray & Mitch. Glaucis Aquila, Bonap. *EHutoxeres Aquila, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p- 15; Id. Troch, Enum. p. 12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p- 3, note. *Myiaétina aquila, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 249.

. Habitat. Costa Rica, New Granada, and Ecuador.

The following notes respecting this species by Dr. J. King Mer- ritt will be read with interest. They are extracted from the 6th volume of the ‘ Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York,’ p. 139:-—

‘“‘ It was, as near as I can recollect, during the month of Septem- ber 1852 that I saw for the first time and obtained a specimen of this (to me) curious and novel bird, I was at that time stationed in the mountainous district of Belen, province of Veragua, New Granada.

“ My attention at that particular period was directed towards the collection of specimens of the Humming-Bird family. One day, while out hunting a short distance from the camp, I was startled by the swift approach of a small object through the close thicket, which darted like a rifle bullet past me, with a loud hum and buzzing of wings. Indeed, it was this great noise that accompanied its flight that especially attracted my attention as something un- common. pad

“ The bird continued its flight but a short distance beyond the spot where I stood, when it suddenly stopped in its rapid course directly in front of a flower. There for a moment poising itself in this position, it darted upon the flower in a peculiar manner ; in fact, the movements which now followed were exceedingly curious, _ Instead of inserting its beak into the calyx by advancing in a direct line towards the flower, as customary with this class of birds, this one performed a curvilinear movement, at first stooping forward while it introduced its beak into the calyx, and then, when appa- rently the point of the beak had reached the desired locality in the flower, its body suddenly dropped downwards, so that it seemed as though it was suspended from the flower by the beak. That this was not actually the case, the continued rapid movement of its wings demonstrated beyond a doubt. In this position it remained the or- dinary length of time, and then, by performing these movements in the reverse order and direction, it freed itself from the flower, and afterwards proceeded to the adjoining one, when the same opera- tion was repeated as already described.

“The flower from which it fed is somewhat peculiar in form, &c. The plant belongs to the Palm species, and grows in low marshy

37

places, on or near the margins of rivers and mountain streams. It consists of a dozen or more straight stems, each of which terminates above in a broad expanded leaf that somewhat resembles the plan- tain. These stems all start from a clump at the surface of the ground, but they immediately separate, aud slightly diverge from. each other. The stems with the leaf grow to the height of six to ten feet, more or less. From one or two of the centre stems a flower- stalk puts forth, which hangs pendent, and to this are attached alternately on either side the flowers, while the space between each corresponds with the attachment of the one on the opposite side of the stalk.

“ The flower resembles somewhat in form the Roman helmet inverted, and is attached, as it were, by the point of the crest to the stalk. It is a fleshy mass, and the cavity of the calyx extends in a tortuous manner downwards towards the attachment of the flower to the stalk.”

4, EUTOXERES ConDAMINEI er reer a ere IV.

Trochilus Condamini, Boure. . * Buioxeres Condaminei, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 15; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 3, note. * Myiuétina condamini, Bonap. Rev. et —Mag. de Zool. 1854, p- 249.

Habitat. Eastern Ecuador. :

For the knowledge of the existence of E. Condaminei science is indebted to the researches of M. Bourcier, who brought specimens from Archidona.

Genus Giaucis, Boié.

This genus comprises at least six species, three of which are very nearly allied. It will be seen, on reference. to my account of G. hirsutus, that when it was written I was much perplexed with regard to its synonymy, or rather, as to whether the small red- coloured bird, G. mazeppa, was or was not identical with it; and although some years have since elapsed, I have not even now been able to arrive ata satisfactory solution of the difficulty. Under these circumstances, I think it will be best to regard the G. mazeppa as distinct; and this view of the subject is supported by the fact that ‘I do not find small red-coloured birds accompanying the allied species, affinis, Lawr., which is a native of Bogota. I think it likely that all these birds, when fully adult, have the tail shorter ‘and more rounded than during the period of immaturity or at the end of the first year of their existence. The youthful state then is indicated by a more cuneate form of tail, all the feathers of which are pointed and tipped with white; and as the birds advance in age —that is, at each moult—the tail-feathers become more rounded and the white tipping less, until at length it is reduced to a mere fringe, existing in some instances on the middle feathers alone.

The distribution of the species of the genus Glaucis extends over

38

the whole of the eastern parts of Brazil, the Guianas, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela, the banks of the Amazon, New Granada, and Veragua.

Oe SR RGIS TEMS Sek cs ee Vol. I. Pl. V. Trochilus hirsutus, Gmel., Vieill., Dumont, T emm., Less., Jard. Phethornus hirsutus, Jard. & Selb.

Polytmus Brasiliensis, Briss.

Lrochilus Brasiliensis, Lath.

Polyimus hirsutus, Gray & Mitch.

Glaucis hirsutus, Boié, Bonap. hirsuta, Reich.

*Trochilus Dominicus, Licht. Doubl. p. 12; Cab. Schomb. Reise Guian. tom. iii. p. 708.

*—____. ferrugineus, Wied, Beitr. iv. p. 20.

*——__—_ superciliosus, foem., Less. Hist. Nat. des Col. p. 38, pl. 7; Id. Traité d’Orn. p. 289; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming- Birds, vol. ii. p- 120, pl. 27; Burm. Th. Bras. tom. li. p. 324.

* hirsuta, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil ili. p. 4.

Habitat. Eastern Brazil, Venezuela, and the Island of Trinidad.

6. Graucis Mazerppa . .., Serre 6) be Oe

*Gilaucis Mazeppa, Less. Troch. p. 18, pl.3; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 130. *Phaéthornis Mazeppa, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. . 162. . *Poiiiinus mazeppa, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. p- 108 Polytmus, sp. 32. *Glaucis Mazeppa, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p- 15.

Habitat. Cayenne, the Guianas, and the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

“ 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 trul assumes an attitude which a stranger might construe into a medi. tated attack upon his person. I have often been induced to strike at them with my fowling-piece from their proximity.”—* Hore Loologice,’ by Sir W. Jardine, Bart., in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol XS. D. 372.

?

7. GLAUCIS AEPINIS, Laon, 2° Ee os eee VIL. * Glaucis affinis, Lawr.in Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. vi, p- 261. Habitat. The high lands of New Granada. Specimens are fre- quently sent from Bogota.

39

8° Giabers wancmonatus, Gould dex! 0 0 MoldidPl WIN.

Habitat. Para.

9. GLAucIs mELANURA, Gold... . . + Vole I PLEX. Habitat. The banks of the Rio Napo and the Rio Negro.

i Camtee one . Se ee ee, VOL LT

Trochilus Dohrnii, Boure. Glaucis Dorhni, Bonap., Reich. * Glaucis Dohrni, Cab: et Hein. Mus. Hein. ‘Theil iii. p. 4.

Habitat. Southern Brazil.

M. Bourcier has given Ecuador as the locality where his speci- men was procured; but my bird was received direct from the dis- trict of Espirito Santo in Brazil.

Miadahaois MuCKERT . seu 6 a te Shien: VOR a. ke

Trochilus Ruckert, Bourc. Polytmus Ruckeri, Gray & Mitch. * Threnetes Ruckeri, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 15; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12. * Glaucis Ruckeri, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 4.

Habitat. Veragua.

19. Guaucis Fraser, Gould . . . . « - Vol. 1 Pll XII. * Glaucis Ruckeri, Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part 28. p. 296.

Mr. Fraser collected at Babahoyo, in Ecuador, specimens of a bird which both Dr. Sclater and myself considered to be identical with the Glaucis Ruckeri, but which, on a more minute comparison with specimens from Veragua, I find to be sufficiently different to entitle it to be regarded as distinct ; I have therefore named it after its discoverer, as a just tribute to one who has played a good part in the furtherance of science. The G. Fraseri differs from G. Ruckert in being rather larger in size, in having a smaller amount of rusty red on the chest, and in having a decidedly grey breast; in other respects the two birds are very similar.

The following is Mr. Fraser’s note respecting this species :—

“ Found on the edge of the virgin forest; always solitary; gene- rally in dark and lonely places, and very restless. Irides hazel ; upper mandible black, lower yellow, with a black tip; legs and feet flesh-colour.” .

Habitat. Ecuador.

Allied to the last form are the members of the genus Threnetes ; these birds are not distinguished by any brilliancy of colouring, but two of them are very prettily marked about the throat and chest.

Surinam and the adjacent countries are given as the habitat of

40

T. leucurus, while the banks of the Rio Napo are known to be the home of the bird I have called cervinicauda; and the sombre- plumaged Antonie is a native of Cayenne and the Guianas. I believe that the females of all three species are clothed like the males.

Genus THRENETES, Gould.

(Opnvnrijs, a mourner.)

Generic characters.

Male.— Bill lengthened, arched, and pointed ; wings moderately long, and rounded at the tip; ¢az/ short, square, or rounded; ¢arsi partially clothed; feet very small; hind toe and nail short.

EOL ER BNET ie GEUOURUS:-<. 4, sas, . 2) Vb bok wee Trochilus leucurus, Linn., Gmel., Lath., Less., Vieill., Dumont, Drap. ; Polytmus Surinamensis, Briss. - leucurus, Gray & Mitch. Gilaucis leucurus, Bonap. * Threnetes leucurus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p.15; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12.

Habitat. Surinam and British Guiana.

14. THRENETES CERVINICAUDA, Gould . . . Vol. I. Pl. XIV.

* Threnetes cervinicauda, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part 22. Damo oe

Habitat. Province of Quijos in Ecuador.

15. THRENETES ANTONIE ee Po be, Oe ae eee ee

Trochilus Antonie, Bourc. et Muls. Polytmus Antonie, Gray & Mitch. Lampornis Antonie, Bonap. * Aphantochroa Antoniae, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p.- 15; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12.

Habitat. Cayenne and the Guianas.

I now enter upon the genus Phaéthornis, the members of which are so widely dispersed, that the remark I made on the extended distribution of the entire group is almost applicable to this section of it. In the body of this work I have figured nearly thirty species under this generic appellation, including therein the smaller kinds to which Bonaparte gave the name of Pygmornis, a term I shall now adopt for these little birds: but a further subdivision of the group I cannot for a moment entertain; the separation of the P. Bour- cieré into a distinct genus, for which the term Ametrornis has been proposed by Dr. Reichenbach, and of the P. Guyi under that of Toxo- teuches by Dr. Cabanis, being, in my opinion, quite unnecessary,

Ad

Genus PHakrHornis, Swains.

16. PHA#THORNIS EURYNOME - - + + + ° Vol. I. Pi. XVE. Trochilus Eurynome, Less. . Eurynomus, Jard. } Phetornis eurynomus, Gray & Mitch., Bonap.

* Phethornis Eurynomus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p- 150.

* Phaétornis eurynome, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 67, Phaé-

. tornis, sp. 5.

* Trochilus melanotis, “ Licht.” Nordm. Erm. Reis. Atl. p. 2.

* Phetornis melanotis, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, Phetornis, sp. 3; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 67, Phe- tornis, sp. 3.

* Ptyonornis Hurynome, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12. .

* Phaéthornis eurynome, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 9.

Habitat. Brazil.

17. PHAETHORNIS MALARIS. — Phaéthornis superciliosus . - + + ss * Vol. I. Pl. XVII.

* Phaéthornis malaris, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 10), sp.2; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 67, sp. 2; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 9.

* Colibri a longue queue de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 600, 3.

* Brin blane mdle, Vieill. Ois. Dor. tom. i. p. 37, pl.17..

* Trochilus superciliosus, Id. Enc. Méth. Orn. part 2. p. 549, sp. oe Less. Hist. Nat. des Col. p. 35, pl. 6 ; Id. Traité d’Orn. p. 288 ;

Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 119, pl. 26; Cab.

Schomb. Reise Guian. iii. p. 708 ; Burm. Th. Bras. ii. p. 323.

malaris, “ Licht.” Nordm. Erm, Reis. Atl. p. 2, 15.

* Phaéthornis superciliosus, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. il. p. 330; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 1505 Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, Phetornis, sp. 1; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 67, Phetornis, sp. 1 ; Pelzeln, Sitz. Acad. Wien. 1856, p. 157, 1. ,

Habitat. Cayenne, the Guianas, and Northern Brazil ?

*

It will be seen that the above list of synonyms differs from those given with my account of this species. I adopt them on the authority of Dr. Cabanis, who considers that I am in error in applying the term superciliosus to the bird I have figured under that name, and that it properly belongs to the one I have called Pretrei,—an opinion which is probably correct, as the German natu- valists are doubtless better acquainted with the type specimens of continental writers than we can be: the synonyms of malaris and superciliosus are therefore given as stated by Dr. Cabanis.

4-2

18. PHAETHORNIS CONSOBRINUS.

* Trochilus consobrinus, “ Boure.” Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. ee *Phethornis Moorei, Lawr. in Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. vi. p. 259. Habitat. New Granada, Ecuador, and the banks of the Napo..

This is the bird so commonly sent from Bogota, and which so closely assimilates both to the malaris (superciliosus of my work) and longirostris (cephalus). It ranges over the north-western parts of Venezuela and New Granada. I have also a specimen from Archidona in Ecuador. A great number of specimens from all these countries are now before me, and among them two named consobrinus by M. Bourcier himself, and one from Mr. Lawrence of New York, labelled P. Moorei, proving that. these two names have been applied to the same bird.

19. PHAETHORNIS FRATERCULUS, Gould . . Vol. I. Pl. XVIII. Habitat. Cayenne and the neighbouring countries.

Every ornithologist who has paid attention to the Zrochilide must have seen a Humming-Bird from Cayenne and the adjacent countries which is very similar to, but smaller than, the malaris (su- perciliosus of this monograph); yet, strange to say, I find no de- scription that, will accord. with it. I have therefore given it the pl Me specific appellation. It is possible that it may be the female of

he malaris (superciliosus).

20. PHAHTHORNIS LONGIROSTRIS . . . . ~ Vol. I. Pl. XIX. Trochilus longirostris, De Latt. ————. cephalus, Boure. et Muls., Gray & Mitch. Phetornis cephalus, Bonap. Ptyonornis cephalus, Reichenb. * Phaéthornis longirostris, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 9.

Habitat. Central America.

21. PHAETHORNIS SYRMATOPHORUS, Gould . . Vol. I. Pl. XX. Habitat. Ecuador.

“ Trides hazel; upper mandible black; lower mandible red, tipped with black; legs and feet dark flesh-éolour. Stomach contained yellow insects. Allinsects previously examined amongst the Hum- ming-Birds have been black.” —Fraser in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part 27, p. 145.

22. PHatruornis Boxiviana, Gould.

Upper mandible black; under mandible yellow, with a dark tip; above and beneath the eye a stripe of buff; chin smoky brown; throat, chest, belly, and under tail-coverts dull reddish-fawn colour ; crown dark brown, each feather faintly striated with buff; all the upper surface dull reddish fawn-colour, crescented with small marks

| = ee \

43

of brown; base of the four outer tail-feathers on each side bronzy green, to which suceeeds a bar of black, beyond which the tip is reddish buff; the two prolonged centre feathers bronze at the base, then brownish black, and white for the remainder of their length. Total length 53 inches, bill 12, wing 2}, tail 23. Habitat. Bolivia.

This bird is somewhat allied to P. syrmatophorus; but it is of much smaller size and has the throat and chest differently coloured, those parts being obscure smoky grey without the conspicuous streakings of buff; the whole under-surface also, as well as the rump, is less richly coloured.

93, PHAETHORNIS PHILIPPI PT icp AW Olea tale XXI.

Trochilus Philippii, Boure. De Filippit, Boure. Phatornis Philippi, Gray & Mitch. Phaétornis philippi, Bonap. - Orthornis defilippi, Bonap. Ametrornis De Filippi, Reichenb. * Ametrornis Defilippii, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 10, note.

Habitat. Peru or Bolivia.

94, PHAETHORNIS HISPIDUS, Gould a ena PR aT. Trochilus ( ?) hispidus, Gould. Phetornis hispidus, Gray & Mitch. Phaétornis hispidus,. Bonap. * Ptyonornis hispida, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12.

Habitat. Bolivia.

95, PHABTHORNIS OSERYI- - + + + + + Vol. I. Pl. XXIII. Trochilus Oseryi, Boure. et Muls. | Ametrornis Osery?, Reichenb. Orthornis osery?, Bonap. Phethornis villosus, Lawr.

Habitat. New Granada and Ecuador.

26. PHAHTHORNIS ANTHOPHILUS + «© + - Vol. I. Pl. XXIV.

Trochilus Anthophilus, Boure. Phetornis anthophilus, Gray & Mitch., Bonap. Phaétornis anthophilus, Bonap. 7 * Phaethornis anthophila, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 9.

Habitat. New Granada. 27. PHAETHORNIS Bountrent..-.° «.- -. Vol. ET. PL XAXY.

Trochilus Bourcieri, Less. Phetornis Bourciert, Gray & Mitch.

— - a — SSS SS ee =

a

44

Phaétornis bourcieri, Bonap. * Trochilus Bourcieri, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p- 124. * Phethornis Bourcieri, Id. p- 150. * Orthornis Bourcieri, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 249. * Ametrornis Bourciert, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troch. Enum. p.12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 10.

Habitat. Cayenne and the adjacent countries.

Oe PaAareronwis GuYt 2.62% Yo 4 t40dis “Vekd? PRE wie

Trochilus Guy, Less., Jard. Ornismya G'uy, Delatt. Echo du Monde Savant, no. 45, Juin 15, 1843, col. 1069. : Phetornis Guy, Gray & Mitch. Phaétornis Guy, Bonap. Trochilus apicalis, Licht., Tsch. -Phetornis apicalis, Gray & Mitch. Phaétornis apicalis, Bonap. . *Phethornis Guy, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 150; Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p.14; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12. * Guyornis typus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 249. * Toxoteuches Guyi, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 11.

Habitat. Trinidad.

29. PHAHTHORNIS EMILI&. Trochilus Emilie, Boure.

*Phetornis Emilia, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, Phetornis, sp.’7; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. vol. i. p. 68, Phaé- tornis, sp. 7.

Habitat. New Granada.

On reference to my account of P. Guyi, it will be seen that I questioned whether the Trochilus Emilie of M. Bourcier was not identical with that species; but having since seen a great number of examples of the latter from Bogota, and of the former from Trinidad, I find that each possesses certain characters by which an experienced ornithologist would be able at once to say whence specimens of either had been received. The Andean bird, when fully adult, is rather larger in size, is much darker in general ap- pearance, has the chin stripes less conspicuous, the apical two- thirds of the tail-feathers blacker, and their basal third and the upper tail-coverts bluish green instead of pure green. The differ- ences in the two birds are, in fact, precisely analogous to those which occur between the Glaucis hirsutus and G. affinis.

307 PHAMrHoRNIs Yarvour. . «= <'o:( Wohi’ Ph AW,

Trochilus Yaruqui, Boure. *Phaéthornis Yarugui, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p..14; Id. Troeh. Enum. p. 12. *Guyornis Yaruqui, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 24.9.

45

* Toxoteuches Yaruqui, Cab.et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p.11, note. Habitat. Ecuador. .

“Upper mandible black; lower deep red with a black tip; legs and feet reddish.”—Frraser, Proc. of Zool. Soc. part 28, p» G4. —

As the last three species advance in age their tails become shorter, their feathers broader, and the white fringing of the lateral ones almost obsolete.

| 31. PHAETHORNIS SUPERCILIOSUS. . | Mico Presta 6 Pee ORR XXVIII. |

* Polytmus Cayanensis longicaudus, Briss. Orn. tom. iii. p. 686, 13, tab. 35. fig. 5. .

* Trochilus superciliosus, Linn. Syst. Nat. tom. i. p. 139; Lath. Ind. Orn.tom. i.p.302; Wied, Beitr. tom.iv.p.116 ; “ Licht.” Nordm. Erm. Reis. Atl. p. 2,16.

*________ Pretrei, Delatt. et Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 20.

*.____ brasiliensis, Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian. tom. ili.

: elas FOG:

* Phetornis Pretrei, Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, Phetornis,

sp. 16, pl. 35; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 68, Phetornis, ‘-—gpel5:

* Trochilus affinis, Natt. in Mus. Vindob.

* Phathornis affinis, Pelzeln, Sitz. Acad. Wien, 1857, p. 157.

- superciliosus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 9.

Habitat. Eastern Brazil.

As in the case of P. malaris, the above list of synonyms is given on the authority of Dr. Cabanis.

32. PuaiirHornts AUGUSTI . : eae TEMES | 0s Oe rel © <e.

Trochilus Augusti, Boure. Phetornis Augusta, Gray & Mitch. augustt, Bonap. Phaétornis augustae, Bonap. *Phaéthornis Augusti, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troch. Enum. p.12. . .

Habitat. Venezuela. {'

33. PHAETHORNIS SQUALIDUS. Phaéthornis intermedius - - * + = * Vol. I. Pl. XXX. * Trochilus squalidus, “ Natt.” Temm. Pl. Col. 120. fig. 1; Less.

Man. d’Orn. p. 289; Id. Hist. Nat. des Col. p. 40, pl.8; Id. Traité d’Orn. p. 289; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii.

p- 125.

intermedius, Less. Troch. p. 65, pl. 19; Jard. Nat. Lib.

Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 123. leucophrys, “ Licht.” Nordm, Erm. Reis. Atl. p. 2, 18.

E

siege ee ee a

46

*Phethornis squalidus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p-151; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 68, sp.11; Burm. Th. Bras. tom. ii. p. 325.

, intermedius, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 150; Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, sp. 8;

_ Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 67, Phaetornis, sp. 8.

* ____—__ leucophrys, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, sp. 4.

* brasiliensis, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, sp. 10.

* Ptyonornis intermedia, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12.

* Phaéthornis squalida, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 8.

Habitat. South-eastern Brazil.

We now come to that section to which Bonaparte gave the name of Pygmornis. As the term implies, these birds are all extremely diminutive; so minute, indeed, are they, that, if subjected to the balance, their tiny bodies must be weighed by grains. That these mites of birds perform some important office in the scale of nature is certain, from the number both of species and individuals: they are very widely dispersed over every part of the great country which is inhabited by this extensive family of birds; with the exception of one species, however (the P. Adolphi), they all fly to the southward of the Isthmus of Panama. How minute must be the insects taken

by these diminutive birds, how perfect must be their vision, and how ~ » delicately sensitive must be their tongues!

The only external difference between the sexes consists in the ' longer and more graduated tails of the females; in colour they are as nearly alike as possible.

34. PyGmMoRNIs LONGUEMAREUS. - Phaéthornis Longuemareus- - . . . ~ Vol. I. Pl. XXXI. Trochilus Longuemareus, Less. Phetornis Longuemareus, Gray & Mitch. Phaétornis Longuemareus, Bonap. Phaéthornis Longuemari, Reich. ‘* Trochilus Longuemareus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 126; Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian. tom. iii. p. 709. * Phethornis Longuemareus, Jard. Nat. Lib. vol. ii. p. 151. * Pygmornis Longuemarei, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note. Habitat. Cayenne, Guiana, Trinidad, and the eastern part of ~ ‘Venezuela. idee 35. PyGMoRNis AMAURA. Phaéthornis Amaura . . - + + + + Vol. I. Pl. XXXII. Pygmornis Amaura, Boure. . Phethornis atrimentalis, Lawr. * Pygmornis amaura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note. Habitat. Banks of the River Napo.

47

36. PyGMorNis ASPASI®. eae Reo . Phaéthornis viridicaudata, Gould . . ~ Vol. I. Pl. XXXII.

*Trochilus Aspasie, Boure. et Muls. Ann. de la Soe. Linn. de. Lyon, tom. iii. 1856.

* Phaéthornis viridicaudata, Gould, Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1857, p. 14.

* Trochilus (Polytmus) pygmaeus, Tschudi, Consp. p. 36; Id. Faun. Per. p. 243. .

* Pygmornis viridicaudata, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7; note.

Habitat. Brazil and Peru.

37. PyamMornis zoNuRA, Gould. Phaéthornis zonura, Gould . . . . . Vol. I. Pl. XXXIV. Habitat. Peru.

38. Pycmornis AvoLPHI. Phaéthornis Adolphi, Boure.. . . . . Vol. I. Pl. XXXV.

' Phaéthornis Adolphi, Bourc. ' Pygmornis Adolphi, Parzudaki. . * Pygmornis Adolphi, “ Sallé, MSS.” Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note. =e Habitat. Central America.

“This,” says Mr. Salvin, “is an abundant species in the forest about Yzabal, but the density of the under growth renders it ex- tremely difficult to obtain a shot at so small and active an object. The bird is by no means shy, and takes but little notice of an ob- server—even searching the flowers almost within arm’s reach, for the insects and honey therein contained. In movement it is extremely elegant and graceful, and, flitting from flower to flower, shows its beautifully. formed tail conspicuously in every motion. Like all others of its family, it selects a small twig for its perch, giving pre- ference to a dead one. While at rest it trims its feathers dexter- ously with its bill, which every now and then it cleans by rubbing it first on one side and then on the other of the twig on which it stands.”—‘ Ibis,’ vol. i. p. 127.

39. PyGMoRNIS GRISEOGULARIS, Gould.

- Phaéthornis griseogularis, Gowld . . . Vol. I. Pl. XXXVI. “* Pygmornis griseigularis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theiliii. p. 8. _ Habitat. New Granada; and Ecuador?

In my description of this species I have inadvertently stated that it has a crescent of black across the breast, which is not the case. _ Mr. Bell of New York informs me that he has heard the “ little Pygmornis of Panama,” by which I believe the present bird is intended, “sing beautifully, the notes forming a soft, shrill, and pretty song.” EQ

48

40. PyGMorNIS STRIIGULARIS, Gould. Phaéthornis-striigularis, Gould . . + Vol. I. Pl. XX XVII. * Pygmornis striigularis, Cab.et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p.'7, note. Habitat. New Granada.

41. Pygmornis IDALIZ. Phaéthornis obscura, Gowld . . . . Vol. I. Pl. XXXVIII. * Trochilus Idalia, Bourc. et Muls. Ann. de la Soc. Linn. de Lyon, tom. iii. 1856. * Phethornis obscura, Gould, Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1857, p. 14. * Pygmornis obscura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note. Habitat. Brazil.

42. Pyemornis NIGRICINCTUS. Phaéthornis nigricinctus, Lawr. . Vol. I. Pl. XXXIX. fig. 1.

Phaéthornis nigricinctus, Lawr. * Pygmornis nigricincta, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.

Habitat. The forests bordering the upper part of the River Amazon.

43. Pyemornis Eriscopus, Gould. Phaéthornis Episcopus, Gould . . Vol. I. Pl. XXXIX. fig. 2.

Phaéthornis Episcopus, Gould. * Pygmornis episcopus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.

Habitat. British Guiana.

44. PYGMORNIS RUFIVENTRIS.

* Brin blane jeune dge, Vieill. Ois. Dor. tom. i. p. 39, pl. 19.

* Trochilus rufigaster, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. tom. vii. p- 357; Id. Enc. Méth. Orn. part ii. p. 551.

*—____. Davidianus, Less. Troch. p. 50, pl. 13; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 127.

* Phethornis Davidianus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p- 151; Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i, p- 108, sp. 13.

“a — rufigaster, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, sp. 12. ;

Pas A pygmaeus, Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian. tom. iii. p.’708.

* Bremita Davidianus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 11.

*Pygmornis Davidianus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250.

24 — rufiventris, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.

Habitat. Cayenne.

_ The above list of synonyms are given on the authority of Dr. Cabanis : it is just possible that they may refer to the female of my P. Episcopus; but I fear that this cannot at present be satisfactorily determined.

——————

=

49

45. Pyamornis Eremita, Gould.

Phaéthornis Eremita, Gould » .°. + + +. Vol. tT. PL XL.

Trochilus Brasiliensis, Temm. ———— rujfigaster, Less. Phetornis rufigaster, Gray & Mitch. Phaéthornis Eremita, Gould. *Trochilus Brasiliensis, Less. Man. d’Orn, tom. ii. p. 75; Id. Traité d’Orn. p. 289... - . *____ mfigaster, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p- 83, pl. 4.» * Phethornis rufigaster, Jard. Nat. Lib, Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 151; Burm. Th. Bras, tom. ii. p. 326. * Phatornis, sp., Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. App. p. 30a. * Phaétornis eremita, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 68, Phae- tornis, sp. 12. * Hremita rufigaster, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troch. LO ire Ue? & | Sanh eee * Pygmornis rufigaster, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250. _ eremita, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7.

Habitat. Northern Brazil, Bahia, the banks of the Lower Amazon.

46. PYGMORNIS PYGMEA. -Phaéthornis pygmeus - - + + + + + > Vol. I. Pl. X%LI.

Trochilus pygmaeus, Spix. Phaétornis pygmeus, Bonap. *Trochilus Brasiliensis, Wied, Beitr. tom. iv. p. P11. .: pygmaeus, Burm. Th. Bras. tom. ii. p. 327. *Bremita pygmaeus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14; Id. Troeh. Enum. p. 10. * Pygmornis pygmaea, Cab. et Hein, Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 6.

Habitat. South-eastern Brazil.

Subfamily Il. TROCHILIN/.

I commence the second volume with the Campylopteri, a group of Humming-Birds distinguished by their great size, by the diver- sity of their colouring, and by the broad dilated shafts of the first three primaries or quill-feathers of the males. The members of this group are spread over nearly the whole of the temperate regions of America, from Mexico to the equator, including Brazil, Guiana, Venezuela, and some of the West Indian Islands.

This section of the Trochilide comprises several very distinct forms :-—one remarkable for a deeply forked tail, for the rich blue colouring of the body, and for the similarity in the outward appear- ance of the sexes; another for having the tail cuneate ; while a third, comprising six or seven species, 18 distinguished by a very ample and rounded tail. It is for the last form alone that I have retained the generic appellation of Campylopterus, applying that of

eet sett — —

50

Eupetomena to the deeply forked-tailed bird macroura, Spheno- proctus to the .cuneate-tailed Pampa, and Pheochroa to the Cu- viert and the allied Roberti, which may be considered as aberrant, the broad shafts of the primaries (the principal characteristic of the _ group) being but slightly developed. These birds lead on to Aphan- tochroa.

Genus EupETOMENA, Gould.

(Ev, bené, et rerovévn, volans.)

Generic characters. .

Male.— Bill longer than the head, and slightly arched; wings moderate; shafts of the first two or three primaries bowed, dilated and flattened ; tail long and deeply forked ; éarsi partially clothed ; Jeet rather small; hind toe shorter than the middle toe.

Female.—Similar to the male in plumage.

47. EUPETOMENA MACROURA, Eupetomena hirundinacea . . . . - Vol. I. Pl. XLII.

Trochilus macrourus, Gmel., Licht. ——-~ forcipatus, Lath. Mellisuga Cayanensis caudd bifured, Ray, Willughb., Briss. Ornismya hirundinacea, Less. Polytmus macrourus, Gray & Mitch. * Prognornis macroura, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col., p.11; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 9, pl. 805. figs. 4873-75. * Hupetomena macroura, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 254. * Cynanthus macrourus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. . 149. + aehetomeite macrura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 14. *Ornismya hirundinacea, Dev. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1852, p. 214.

Habitat. Brazil, Cayenne, and the neighbouring countries.

M. Deville states that “this Humming-Bird sometimes accom- panies the Chrysolampis moschitus into the fields, but generally prefers the neighbourhood of the river-banks, where the silky tufts of the Inge and the blossoms of the numerous Lianes suffice for its wants. It flies very rapidly, has a shrill ery, and is so fearless that it will settle within a few feet of the object which has alarmed it. It is found throughout the whole of Brazil all the year round, but appears to be most numerous in August, September, and October.”

Genus SpHrenorroctus, Cab.

Of this form there are evidently two species—one inhabiting Mexico, and the other Guatemala. It bas always been considered by Trochilidists that the 15th Plate of the Supplement to ‘ Lesson’s Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches’ represents one or other of them, but that he was in error in giving the interior of La Plata as its habitat. I have not been able to see Lesson’s type; otherwise I could have ascertained to which of the two it has reference, or whether it is different from both. My figures were taken from

\e

~~

51 ms 4 Guatemalan specimens, and Lesson’s plate would appear to have been taken from an example procured in the same country; con- sequently the term Pampa must be retained for the Guatemalan bird, while for the larger and stouter Mexican birds we must use Lichtenstein’s name curvipennis.

48. SpuHenoproctus Pampa. Campylopterus Pampa, Less. - - + - - Vol. I. Pl. XLII.

-Ornismya Pampa, Less. Polytmus pampa, Gray & Mitch. Campylopterus pampa, Less., Bonap., Jard. Pampa campyloptera, Reichenb. -*Campylopterus pampa, Sclat. & Salv. Ibis, vol. i. p.127; Salv. Ibis, vol. ii. p. 260. Habitat. Guatemala.

49. SPHENOPROCTUS CURVIPENNIS. * Trochilus curvipennis, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Thier. v. Deppe & Schiede (Sept. 1830), no. 32. * Sphenoproctus pampa, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 11. * Campylopterus pampa, Montes de Oca in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1860, p. 551. .

Habitat. Mexico.

This species differs from the preceding in its much larger size, and in the paler tint of its blue crown.

“The people of Coantepec, nine miles from Jalapa,” says M. Montes de Oca, “give to this species the name of Chupa-mirto fan- danguero, or Fandango Myrtle-sucker, apparently because it has a somewhat musical voice. It is the only Humming-Bird with which I am acquainted whose notes are sufficient to recognise it by in the woods: though rather monotonous, they are very pleasing. It is occasionally found in the neighbourhood of Jalapa, but it is more abundant at Coantepec. It inhabits the forest in the winter season, and generally feeds on the flowers of the high bushes called Asa- saretos, which are then in full bloom, and densely covered with smooth emerald-green leaves, amongst which it is very difficult to be detected. Very few are to be seen in summer time.”

Genus CampyLorrerus, Swains.

50. CAMPYLOPTERUS LAZULUS + * * = = Vol. II. Pl. XLIV.

Trochilus lazulus, Vieill. falcatus, Swains., Less. Mellisuga lazulus, Gray & Mitch. Campylopterus lazulus, Bonap- Teniopterns lazulus, Reichenb. -* Ornismya falcata, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou. pp. xliv. 126. +» pl. 36. * Campylopterus lazulus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 13.

52

Habitat. Venezuela, the hilly parts of New Granada generally, and Ecuador, from which latter country I have received spe- cimens through Professor Jameson, collected near Barza.

51. CAMPYLOPTERUS HEMILEUCURUS. Campylopterus Delattrei . . . . » - + Vol. II. Pl, XLV.

Ornismya (Campylopterus) De Lattre, Less.

Mellisuga De Lattrei, Gray & Mitch.

Campylopterus delattre, Bonap.

delattrii, Bonap.

Delattrei, Reichenb.

* Trochilus hemileucurus, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Thier. v. Deppe & Schiede (Sept. 1830), no. 33.

*Campylopterus hemileucurus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii.

- 13.

* De Lattrei, Montes de Oca in Proc. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Philad. 1860, p. 47.

Habitat. Mexico and Guatemala.

“ The large and showy tail of this Humming-Bird,” says Mr. Salvin, “makes it one of the most conspicuous when on the wing. It is common at Coban, feeding among the Salvi; it is said also to be found in the Volean de Fuego, but I have not met with it. The females of this species are most abundant, their ratio to the males being as five to two. It is not nearly so shy as its congener, C. rufus.” —Tbis, vol. ii. p. 260.

“ This beautiful Humming Bird,” says M. Montes de Oca, “ is generally known in Mexico by the name of Chupa-mirto real azul, or Royal Blue Myrtle-sucker. It arrives in the vicinity of Jalapa, Coantepec, and Orizaba in considerable numbers during the months of October and November, and is mostly found feeding from a plant called Masapan, between the hours of nine and one o'clock. During this time it is seldom seen to alight, and then only for a very short time in any one place, but is constantly on the

_wing, flitting from flower to flower, describing the segment of a circle in its flight, and sometimes almost touching the ground. For the remainder of the day very few are to be seen, and I think it probable that they visit the woods for certain kinds of mosquitoes, with which I have often found their stomachs well filled.

“The pugnacity of this species is very remarkable. It is very seldom that two males meet without an aérial battle. The contest commences with a sharp cholerie shriek, after which, with dilated throats, the feathers of the whole of their bodies erected on end, and their tails outspread, they begin to fight with their bills and wings, and the least powerful soon falls to the ground or flies away. I have never known one of these battles last longer than about ten seconds; and in the specimens I have had under my notice in cages, their fighting has mostly ended in the splitting of the tongue of one of the two, which then surely dies from being unable to feed,”

53

52. CAMPYLOPTERUS ENSIPENNIS . - - + Vol. II. Pl. XLVI.

_Trochilus ensipennis, Swains. Campylopterus ensipennis, Less. Jard., Bonap., Reichenb. Polytmus ensipennis, Gray & Mitch. | *Trochilus latipennis, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. i. i: p- 116, pl. 34. | | * Campylopterus latipennis, Jard. ib. p. 153. i ensipennis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 12.

Habitat. The Island of Tobago.

On reference to my account of Campylopterus Villavicencio, it

will be seen that I was inclined to believe the C. splendens of M.

a Lawrence to be identical with that bird; but on reconsidering the ) - matter, and observing how numerous and how closely allied are the species of the genus Campylopterus, I now think it probable that it is really distinct. The throat in C. splendens is beautiful blue, and the abdomen washed with green; while in C. Vallavicencio, the whole of the under surface is pure grey. Both these birds have 4 fine metallic-green crowns, which circumstance induced me to i believe that they were opposite sexes of one and the same species, and it is possible that they may yet prove to be so; but for the

present I shall regard them as distinct.

53. CAMPYLOPTERUS SFLENDENS, Lawr. . Vol. I. Pl. XLVII, (Upper fig.) * Campylopterus splendens, Lawr. in Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. vi. p. 262. Habitat. The forests between the upper waters of the Napo and Quito.

54. CAMPYLOPTERUS VILLAVICENCIO . . Vol. II. Pl. XLVII. (Lower fig.) Trochilus Villaviscensio, Boure. Heliomaster Villaviscensio, Reichenb. Heliomastes villavisencio, Bonap.

Habitat. Forests bordering the Rio Napo in Ecuador.

55. CAMPYLOPTERUS LATIPENNIS. .. . Vol. II. Pl. XLVI

I] Trochilus campylopterus, Gmel., Valenc., Drapiez. | | ———— cinereus, Gmel., Lath. largipennis, Bodd. : 1 Bieeee —_———— latipennis, Lath., Vieill., Swains., Jard. Polytmus largipennis, Gray & Mitch. Ornismya latipennis, Less. Campylopterus latipennis, Swains., Jard., Bonap., Less., Reichenb. * Campylopterus latipennis, Cab. 1n Schomb. Reis. Guian. tom. ili.

p- 709. * *

’ Habitat. Cayenne and British Guiana. In my account of C, datipennis I have stated my belief that

largipennis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p.12.”

54

another species of that particular form would be found to inhabit Ecuador, as I have in my collection a specimen received direct from Quito which does not accord with C. latipennis nor with the bird I have called C. obscurus. The tipping of the two or three outer tail-feathers of this Ecuadorian bird is about a quarter of an inch in length. Judging from the form of the shafts of the primaries, it appears to be a female or a young male; and had I not seen very many specimens of C. latipennis, 1 should have supposed it to be- long to that species. The bill is a little longer than that of C. lati- pennis, and so also are the wings; as in that species, all the under surface is pure grey, while the upper part of the body is uniform green. I believe that two specimens from the same country are in the Loddigesian collection. Provisionally, I propose for this bird the name of C. Aquatorialis.

56. CAMPYLOPTERUS /EQUATORIALIS, Gould. Habitat. The neighbourhood of Quito.

57. CAMPYLOPTERUS oBSCURUS, Gould . . Vol. II. Pl. XLIX.

Campylopterus obscurus, Gould, Bonap., Reichenb. Polytmus obscurus, Gray & Mitch.

Habitat. Forests bordering the Lower Amazon.

58. CAMPYLOPTERUS RUFUS, Less. ~. . . . « Vol. II. Pl. L. Campylopterus rufus, Less., Delatt., Bonap. Polytmus rufus, Gray & Mitch. * Platystylopterus rufus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p.11; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 8, pl. 788. figs. 4834-35.

Habitat. Guatemala.

Mr. Salvin noticed that, during the first season of his residence in Guatemala, this species was so scarce at Duenas that he was induced to believe it to be an inhabitant of a higher district, especially as it was more numerous about Atitlan. The next year it was just as abundant, and, instead of being one of the rarest, was one of the most familiar species. He adds that the flowers of the Banana (Musa) were much resorted to by this bird.

59. CAMPYLOPTERUS HYPERYTHRUS, 6k. SOS Vor TR Pia. * Campylopterus hyperythrus, Cab.in Schomb. Reis. Guian. tom. iii. p- 709. * Platystylopterus hyperythrus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 11 ; » Id. Troch. Enum. p. 8, pl. 789. figs. 4836-38. * Loxopterus hyperythrus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 13. Habitat. The Roraima Mountains, in the interior of British Guiana. Genus PumocuroA, Gould. (®axds, fuscus, et Xpda, color.)

Generie characters. Male.—Bill longer than the head, and slightly arched; wings

55

large; the shafts of the first and second primaries slightly dilated ; tail moderately long and square, or very slightly rounded ; tarsi par- tially clothed ; feet rather large; hind toe shorter than the middle toe; claws short.

60. Puyzocuroa CUVIERI. Campylopterus Cuvieri . . . . . . - + Vol. II. Pl. LU.

Trochilus Cuvierii, Delatt. et Boure. Polytmus Cuviert, Gray & Mitch. Campylopterus Cuviert, Bonap., Reichenb. Aphantochroa Cuvieri, Bonap., Reichenb. * Aphantochroa Cuvieri, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 14.

Habitat. Venezuela, New Granada, Panama, and Veragua.

Gl. Pamocunos BRoperTi. . + .« «i>. *Woly He Pe iii .* Aphantochroa Roberti, Salv. in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 203. Habitat. Vera Paz Mountains in Guatemala.

We next arrive at a genus characterized by a very sombre style of colouring. It will be seen that I have proposed the generic appella- tion of Aphantochroa for the Trochilus cirrhochloris of Vieillot. 1 have since added another species to this form under the name 4. gularis. Up to the present moment (July 1861) no second specimen of this bird has been sent to Europe: when we receive others, it may be neces- sary to institute a still further subdivision ; but at present I do not know of any genus in which the bird could be more correctly placed than the one to which I have assigned it.

Genus APHANTOCHROA, Gould.

("Agayzos, obscurus, et xpda, color.)

Generic characters.

Male.—Bill stout, rather longer than the head, and slightly arched ; wings broad and moderately long ; tail square and mode- rately large; tarst clothed ; hind toe rather short.

Sexes alike in the sombre colouring of the plumage.

62. APHANTOCHROA CIRRHOCHLORIS . . .. Vol. II. Pl. LIV.

Trochilus cirrhochloris, Vieill.

Ornismya simplex, Less.

Polytmus cirrhochloris, Gray & Mitch.

Trochilus campylostylus, Licht.

Campylopterus cirrhochloris, Bonap., Jard. * Campylopterus campylostylus, Burm. Th. Bras. ii. p. 329. 2. * Aphantochroa cirrochloris, Reich. Aufz. der Col. p. 15 ; Id. Troch. “Enum. p.12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil ii. p. 14.

Habitat. Brazil.

63. ApHANTocHROA GuLARIS, Gould . . ~ Vol. II. Pl. LV. Aphantochroa’ gularis, Gould. | Habitat. Banks of the Napo.

56 Genus Doterisca, Cab.

The typical species of this form is the T’rochilus fallax of M. Bour- cier, a bird distinguished by its tawny-coloured breast, and by the white tippings of its outer tail-feathers. I wish it to be understood that I do not include in this genus the albicollis or the chiono- gaster, which have been inadvertently figured as pertaining to it. At the same time were I to state that the genus is confined to a - single species, I believe that I should be leading ornithologists into error ; for I have a specimen which, I think, will prove to belong to a second. The example in question, although bearing all the general characteristics of the 7. fadlax, differs in some minor details, and I shall therefore provisionally propose for it the specific name of cervina.

64. DoLERISCA FALLAX. ; Lewetppus fallax, 4 he one % ei SORE VE,

Trochilus fallax, Boure. —— (Lampornis ?) fulviventris, Gould. Polyimus fallax, Gray & Mitch. Leucippus fallax, Bonap., Reichenb. Doleromyia fallax, Bonap. *Dolerisca fallax, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil ui. p. 6.

Habitat. Venezuela.

65. DoLERISCA CERVINA, Gould. Habitat. Unknown.

This new species is larger than the fadlax in all its admeasure- ments, and has a lesser amount of white on the tips of the outer tail-feathers. In fallax these greyish-white tippings occupy both webs of the apical portion of each of the three outer feathers, while in the cervina the inner webs only are thus marked ; these marks are about three-eighths of an inch long on the outer feather, a quarter of an inch on the next, and but a little more than an eighth on the third; the upper mandible in cervina is reddish brown, while in fallax the upper one is black. The habitat of the latter is well known to be Venezuela, but that of the former has yet to be ascer- tained.

Genus Urocuroa, Gould. (Odpa, cauda, et ypda, color.)

Generic characters. ~

Male.—Bill lengthened and straight, or slightly arched; wings moderately long and pointed; ¢az/ square; tarsi partly clothed ; hind toe as long as the middle toe; maz/s short.

Female.— Unknown. 7 Of this remarkable form only one species is at present known.

66. Wmacteoa BOUCUERI <2 + $0. '@ aac 0 Obed y LIL Trochilus Bougueri, Boure.

oF

Ceeligena bougueri, Bonap. Celigena Bouguieri, Reichenb. Urochroa bougieri, Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. part 28. p. 95.

Habitat. Nanegal, in Ecuador.

Genus Srernociyta, Gould. (Brépvor, pectus, et cAvrds, insignis.)

Generic characters.

Male.—Bill unusually large, rather arched, and much longer than the head; wings ample; tac’ moderate and rounded ; farse partly clothed ; feet moderate; throat and breast luminous.

Female.—Unadorned.

Three outer tail-feathers tipped with white in both sexes.

67. STERNOCLYTA cYANEIPECTUs, Gould . Vol. IL. Pl. LVIII.

Trochilus (Lampornis) cyanopectus, Gould. Sternoclyta cyanopectus, Gould. Campylopterus cyantpectus, Bonap. Lampornis cyanopectus, Bonap. Sepiopterus cyanopectus, Reichenb. * Polytmus cyanopectus, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds,vol. i. p. 108. Polytmus, sp. DA *Sternoclyta cyanipectus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein, Theil iii. p. 13, ote. . , Habitat. The province of La Guayra in Venezuela.

We now proceed to the genera Delattria, Celigena, Lamprolema, Eugenes, and their allies, all of which are peculiar to Central America ; at least, so far as is yet known, none of them have been found to the southward of the Isthmus; even Veragua, so far as we are awate, is not tenanted by any one of them.

It may be considered by some ornithologists that here the sub- division of genera has been carried too far; but having once broken ground, and separated the old genus Trochilus,it would be inconsistent to place together in one genus all the members of this Central Ame- \ . tican group of Humming-Birds ; for while a certain degree of unity

pervades them, no generic character could be found which would be applicable to the whole. This instance will serve most efficiently to illustrate the great diversity of closely allied forms which occur in the great family of Humming-Birds. We frequently find groups, like the present, so diversified that nearly every species demands a generic title, while in such genera as Thalurania, Petasophora, and Agleactis, the species, though as distinct as they well can be, possess characters common to all. Feild

-%

IT commence with the

Genus EvGEenes, Gould. (Evyevis, nobilis. ) Generic characters. Male.—Bill straight, longer than the head; wings long. and

a pn ERE ———————

58

pointed; ¢azd moderate and very slightly forked; tarsi clothed ; feet rather small ; hind toe about equal in length to the middle one; crown and throat luminous.

Female.—Unadorned.

Of this form only one species is known; it is a native of Guate- mala and Southern Mexico, and is distinguished from its allies by the gorgeous colouring of its crown and breast. It is in the posses- sion of a luminous crown, and other characters, that this bird differs from that immediately following.

GS. BUGENES PULGENS.......-.+..«. +.4..¥0b dle FL Bie

Trochilus fulgens, Swains. Ornismya Rivolii, Less. Trochilus Rivolii, Jard. Mellisuga fulgens, Gray & Mitch. | Delatiria fulgens, Bonap. Celigena fulgens, Bonap. Celigena fulgens, Reichenb. * Coeligena fulgens, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p.3, pl. 686. figs.4513— 14. * Kugenes fulgens, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 20. *Trochilus melanogaster, Licht. in Mus. Berlin. *—______. Rivoli, Swains. Birds of Brazil, pl. 76.

Habitat. Mexico and Guatemala.

“This species,” says Mr. Salvin, “is rare at Coban. The western boundary of the Llafio of Duefias is the spot where I have found it in the greatest numbers; indeed, with two exceptions, I have never met with it elsewhere. It is a most pugnacious bird. Many a time have I thought to secure a fine male, which I had perhaps been following from tree to tree, and had at last seen quietly perched on a leafless twig, when my deadly intention has been anticipated by one less so in fact, but to all appearance equally so in will. Another Humming-Bird rushes in, knocks the one [ covet off his perch, and the two go fighting and screaming away at a pace hardly to be followed by the eye. Another time this flying fight is sustained in mid air, the belligerents mounting higher and higher, till the one worsted in battle darts away, seeking shelter, followed by the victor, who never relinquishes the pursuit till the vanquished, by doubling and hiding, succeeds in making his escape. These fierce raids are not waged alone between members of the same species. Hugenes fulgens attacks with equal ferocity Amazilia du- merilii, and, animated by no high-souled generosity, scruples not to tilt with the little Trochilus colubris. 1 know of hardly any species that shows itself more brilliantly than this when on the wing ; yet it is not to the midday sun that it exhibits its splendour. When the southerly wind brings clouds and driving mist between the volcanos of Agua and Fuego, and all is as in a November fog in England, except that the yellow element is wanting, then it is that Hugenes JSulgens appears in numbers; Amazilia Devillei, instead of a few scattered birds, is to be seen in every tree, and Trochilus colubris in

59

reat abundance: such animation awakes in Humming-Bird life as would hardly be credited by one who had passed. the same spot an hour or two before; and the flying to and fro, the humming of wings, the momentary and prolonged contests, and the incessant battle-cries seem almost enough for a time to turn the head of a lover of these things. I have fifteen males from Dueiias to one female.’’ —Ibis, vol. i. p. 261. . Following the Eugenes fulgens is the softly coloured Delattria Clemencie of my work, the proper name of which is Ceeligena Cle- mencia, it being the type of the

Genus Coiszenna, Less. 69. Caxigena CLeMENCIm&, Less. ; Peis Clemencias ~~ | 0o.geueth enone eh DA,

Ornismya Clemencie, Less. Lampornis Clemencie, Less. Celigena Clemencie, Less. Mellisuga Clemencie, Gray & Mitch. Delattria clemenciea, Bonap. Lampornis clemencia, Bonap.

~ Ceeligena Clemencia, Reichenb.

* Campylopterus Clemencie, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii.

; ag alae aa

*Tyochilus lucidus, Licht. in Mus. of Berlin.

*Cceligena Clemencia, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 3, pl. 687. fig. 4516;

Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15.

Habitat. Mexico, where it is far from common. | The pikes Genus Lamprotama, Reichend. was instituted for the truly beautiful bird known as De Rham’s

Garnet. . 70. LAMpROLEMA Ruamr .. . . . ~ Vol. II. Pl. LXI. Ornismya Rhami, Less. . ' Ornismia Rhami, Delatt. et Less.

Mellisuga Rhami, Gray & Mitch. - Lampornis rhami, Bonap. Delattria rhami, Bonap. Lamprolaima Rhami, Reichenb. _Heliodoxa Rhami, Reichenb. *Trochilus fulgidus, Licht. in Mus. of Berlin. | *Lamprolema Rhami, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 30.

Habitat. Guatemala. We now come to the

Genus DexatTris, Bonap.

as restricted to the D. Henrici and D. viridipallens, both of which | species are natives of Guatemala. |

60

7s DetbatTrridA HenRict ><a eae tw > Vole. PL: LX.

Ornysmia Henrica, Less. et Delatt. Topaza Henrica, Gray and Mitch. Delattria henrica, Bonap. ——__—— henrici; Bonap. *Lamprolaima Henrici, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9. *Heliodoxa Henrici, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pl. 742. figs. 4701-3.

Habitat. Guatemala.

72. DELATTRIA VIRIDIPALLENS « . . . Vol. LI. Pl. EXPL

Trochilus viridi-pallens, Bourc. et Muls. Polytmus viridi-pallens, Gray & Mitch. Delattria viridi-pallens, Bonap. Thaumantias viridipallens, Bonap. Agyrtria viridipallens, Reichenb.

Habitat. Guatemala.

“* Occurs, in company with Petasophora thalassina, on the Volcan de Fuego. Seems to keep entirely to the forests‘of the voleano. I have never met with it in the plains below. This is one of the com- monest species at Coban. It may readily be recognized by the peculiar harshness of its note.””—Salvin in ‘ Ibis,’ vol. ii. pp. 40, 263.

Near to these are the members of the

Genus Hetiopzanpica, Gould. ("HXoos, sol, et wardexds, juvenilis.)

Generic characters.

Male.—Bill straight, and rather longer than the head; head round, or with the feathers not advancing on the bill; ¢az/ slightly rounded, the feathers broad; tarsi clothed; hind toe shorter than the middle one; head and breast luminous.

Female.—Unadorned.

This genus comprises two species, both of which are natives of Central America, Mexico, and Southern California; they are some- what diminutive in size, and possess the white mark behind the eye which occurs in most of the members of the genera of this section of the Trochilide.

73. HELIOPEDICA MELANOTIS . .-. - + Vol. II. Pl. LXIV.

Trochilus melanotus, Swains. Ornismya Arsenni, Less. Trochilus leucotis, Vieill. ? Thaumatias leucotis, Bonap. ? Basilinna leucotis, Reichenb. ? *Trochilus leucocrotaphus, Shaw (Cabanis). Fa euculliger, Licht., Preis-Verz. Mex. Thier. v. Deppe & Schiede (Sept. 1830), no. 29, 31.

61

*Trochilus leucotis, Jard. Nat. Lib, Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 144. |

* Hylocharis leucotis, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 28.

* Heliopedica melanotis, Sclat. & Salv. Ibis, vol. i. p. 130.

* Basilinna leucotis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil ii. p. 45.

*Trochilus lucidus, Shaw? Gen. Zool. vol. viii. p. 327.

* Mellisuga lucida, Steph. Cont. of Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. xiv. p. 247.

* Sapphironia lucida, Sallé, Liste des Oiseaux; Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. part xxvi. p. 297, and part xxvii. p. 386.

Habitat. Guatemala and Mexico.

I observe that specimens from Guatemala are much smaller than ¢ those from Mexico; but as the colouring and disposition of the markings are precisely similar, I regard them as races only.

M. Sallé, in his ‘ List of the Birds of Mexico,’ has assigned to one of them the name of lucidus of Shaw, believing it to be an earlier name for this bird than melanotis or Arsennt. This list has been followed by Dr. Sclater in his papers on the birds received by M. Sallé from and collected by M. Boucard in Oaxaca ; but as Shaw’s description of Zucidus, as well as the country in which it is said to be found (Paraguay), does not accord with that of melanotis, that name must sink into a synorviym.

‘In some of the open savannahs scattered among the oak-forests of the Volcan de Fuego near Calderas, this species is not uncommon ; I have also frequently met with it in some of the barrancos’ of the same volcano. The white mark running from the eye and the deep coral-red of the bill show conspicuously in the living bird. Itisa very shy species. A single specimen was shot near Coban, and another was brought to me from the mountains of 8. Cruz, near San Gerénimo.”’—Salvin in Ibis, vol. ii. p. 271.

74. Heviopmpica Xantust. . . . . - Vol. II. Pl. LXV.

Amazilia Zantusii, Lawr. Heliopedica castaneocauda, Lawr.

Habitat. Southern California.

If I have extolled the members of the genus Cometes as being among the most gorgeous birds in existence with regard to the colouring of their tails, in like manner I may pronounce the Topaze, which now claim our notice, to be as remarkable for their lustrous throat-marks.

One of these beautiful birds, the Topaza Pella, is an inhabitant of Cayenne and the adjacent countries; while another, the 7. Pyra, flies in the forests of the Upper Rio Negro.

Genus Topaza, G. R. Gray. iors Meh iach eee ee. + Vol, IL. Ph. Wee

Polytmus Surinamensis longicaudus ruber, Briss. Trochilus pella, Linn. et Auct.

62

Falcinellus gutture viridi, Klein. Certhia Surinamensis, Spalowsky. Colkbri pella, Less. Topaza pella, Gray & Mitch., Bonap., Reick., Cabanis. * Trochilus paradiseus, Linn. Syst. Nat. tom. i. p. 189. *Lampornis pella, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 155. Habitat. Cayenne and the adjacent countries.

I find that specimens from Demerara have more-richly coloured throat-marks than those procured in Cayenne; there is also another variety distinguished by the great breadth of their lengthened tail- feathers ; but these differences are not of specific importance.

few Lopa7e® PyRa 0. Mey Vol. If. Pl. LX VII.

Trochilus ( Topaza) pyra, Gould. Topaza pyra, Gray, Bonap., Reichenb., Cabanis. Habitat. The Upper Rio Negro.

It is only at a comparatively recent date that we became ac- quainted with the birds for which I proposed the term Oreotrochilus. D’Orbigny introduced to us the O. Estelle and O. Adele ; while in 1846 the fine O. Chimborazo was brought to light through the researches of M. Bourcier; in 1849 the same gentleman made us aware of the existence of the little less beautiful O. Pichincha, and I, on my own part, had the pleasure of making known the O. mela- nogaster and O. leucopleurus. All these birds inhabit loftier eleva- tions than any other genus of Humming-Birds; for they love to dwell in regions just beneath the line where the melting snows and the warmth of the sun call forth an alpine flora and a peculiar character of insect life; and I question if any other insessorial birds seek their food at so great an elevation as the O. Chimborazo and O. Pichincha. As far as our present knowledge extends, no species has been found to the northward of Ecuador, while to the south they range along the highlands of Peru and Bolivia.

Genus OREOTROCHILUS, Gould.

(Opos, mons, et zpdxeAos, trochilus ; Mountain Humming-Bird.)

Generic characters.

Male.— Bill longer than the head, almost cylindrical, and slightly incurved ; wings rather long and powerful; ¢az/ large, the feathers narrow and rigid ; ¢arsi clothed; feet strong ; hind toe and nail about the same length as the middle toe and nail; throaé luminous.

Female.—Unadorned.

77. OrnEoTROCHILUS CHIMBORAZO . - - Vol. II. Pl. LXVIII.

Trochilus Chimborazo, Boure. Oreatrochilus Chimborazo, Gould, Gray & Mitch., Bonap., Reich. * Orotrochilus Chimborazo, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15, note.

Habitat. Immediately below the snow-line round the cone of the voleanic mountain Chimborazo.

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Mr. Fraser, who killed many examples at Panza, at an altitude of 14,000 feet, says, “ Irides hazel ; bill, legs, and feet black. To be seen occasionally on the Arbor Maria, but feeds generally on a red thistle. It is common, and by no means shy, and has rather a pretty song, oft repeated, and to be heard at a considerable distance. In bad weather, when the wind is high, this bird is said to creep under and into the clumps of Paja (a species of Stipa).”

73. OnroTRocuinus Picuincaa i . . . Vol. IL. Pl. LXIX.

Trochilus Pichincha, Boure. et Mauls.

Oreotrochilus Jamesoni, Jard.

Pichincha, Bonap., Reichenb.

* Orotrochilus Pichinchae, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15.

Habitat. The snow-line of the voleanic mountains of Pichincha and Cotopaxi in Ecuador.

“ Guagua and Rueo Pichincha (14,000 feet alt.), many examples. The Pichincha Humming-Bird, like the Chimborazo, is found only close under the line of perpetual snow; but this species, according to the present state of our knowledge, is more widely distributed than the latter, being found not only on Pichincha, but also on Antisana and Cotopaxi. Upon my first visit to Guagua Pichincha these birds were feeding entirely on the ground, hunting the little moss-covered clumps as fast as the snow melted. They are not uncommon in this loca- lity, but always met with singly. They are very restless, but not shy, seldom remaining on one clump more than a second, then away to another, perhaps a yard distant. Sometimes they would take a rapid flight of 40 or 50 yards. On my second visit, the Chuquiragua (Chuquiraga insignis, Humb.) being in flower, they were feeding from it like the Quindi of Chimborazo, but still occasionally hunted the mossy clumps. They flit with a burr of the wings, and occasion- ally settle, with the feathers all ruffled, on the top of the Chuquira- gua or other small plant. In this respect, so far as my observations and those of Professor Jameson go, they differ from O. Chimborazo.

“ June 5. No snow on the ground, and all birds were apparently scarce and shyer; these birds in particular were chasing each other, in twos and threes, like flashes of lightning.”—-Fraser in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part xxviii. p- 79.

79, OrnzoTrocHitus EstELLH +--+ . . Vol. TE Pi LXX.

Trochilus Estella, D’Orb. et La Fres.

Orthorhynchus Estella, D’Orb.

Trochilus Cecilie, Less.

Oreotrochilus Estella, Gould, Gray & Mitch., Bonap., Cabanis. * Orotrochilus Estellae, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 16.

Habitat. The high lands near La Paz in Bolivia.

80. OREOTROCHILUS LEUCOPLEURUS, Gould . Vol. II. Pl. LXXI.

Oreotrochilus leucopleurus, Gould, Gray & Mitch., Bonap., Rei- chenb. iy

64.

* Orotrochilus leucopleurus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 16.

*« Oreotrochilus leucopterus, Reichenb.”, Cab. et Hein. ib.

* Trochilus Milleri, Lodd. MS.; Fras. in Proce. of Zool. Soe. part xi. p. 114.

Habitat. The Chilian Andes.

“This beautiful and rare species of Humming-Bird,” says Mr. Bridges, “is only found in the elevated valleys of the Andes, residing amongst storms of hail, rain, and thunder, and in places where the naturalist would least expect to find a species of T'rochilus. It subsists more upon small flies than upon the nectar of flowers. On examination of the crops I found them filled with flies, which they take before sun-down along the margin of the mountain rivulets. Specimens were taken at Los Ojos de Aqua, province of Aconcagua, at an elevation of from 6000 to 8000 feet, and I saw them at least 1000 feet above that place. Iris brown.”—Proc. Zool. Soc. part xi.

~ 114. Dr. Philippi met with this bird at Hueso Parado in Northern Chili, at an elevation of not more than 1000 feet above the sea-level.

81. OREOTROCHILUS MELANOGASTER, Gould. Vol. I. Pl. LXXII. Oreotrochilus melanogaster, Gould, Gray & Mitch. Bonap., Reichenb. Orotrochilus melanogaster, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15, note. Habitat. The high lands of Peru; precise locality unknown.

82. OrEotTrRocHitus ApELH . . . . . Vol. II. Pl. LUXXIII. Trochilus Adela, D’Orb. et Lafresn. Orthorhynchus Adela, D’Orb. Oreotrochilus Adele, Gould, Gray & Mitch., Bonap., Reichenb. * Orotrochilus Adelae, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15, note.

Habitat. Bolivia; the high lands around Chuquesaca being one of its localities. j

I now proceed to the

Genus Lampornis, Swains.

This genus comprises many species, some of which inhabit the West Indian Islands, and others the mainland. The best-known among them, the Lampornis Mango, has a wider range than any of the others, as will be seen on reference to my account of that species. They are all distinguished by the harmonious colours of their ample tails, which are even more beautiful in the females than in the males.

83. Lampornis Manco. . + + + + «+ Vol. II. Pl. LXXIV. Trochilus Mango, Linn. et auct- violicauda, Bodd. albus, Gmel. punctulatus, Gmel.

Troehilus nitidus, Lath. Polyimus punctulatus, Briss. Trochilus atricapillus, Vieill.. fasciatus, Shaw. quadricolor, Vieill. nigricollis, Vieill, Lampornis Mango, Swains., Bonap. Polytmus Mango, Gray & Mitch. Anthracothorax Mango, Reichenb. * Trochilus punctatus, Vieill. Eney. Méth. Orn. part il. p. 550 (young). *______ Jazulus, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 290. *Lampornis Mango, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 19. Habitat. The eastern part of Brazil, Trinidad, Venezuela, and the high lands of New Granada.

84. LAMPORNIS IRIDESCENS, Gould.

This is the bird from Guayaquil which I have spoken of in my account of L. Mango as differing from the Mangos of the other parts of America. The chief differences are a rather shorter tail and a glittering wash of blue and green on the throat, instead of that part being velvety black; there is also a greater amount of green on the flanks. ‘Three specimens of this bird were killed and sent to me by Professor Jameson during one of his visits to the coast.

Habitat. Guayaquil.

85. LAMPORNIS PREVOSTT . - © + © = Vol. II. Pl. LXXV..

Trochilus Prevostii, Less., Bourc. Polytmus Prevostii, Gray & Mitch. Lampornis prevosti, Bonap. Anthracothorax Prevostii, Reichenb.. Habitat. Guatemala and Honduras.

86. Lampornis VERAGUENSIS, Gowld . . Vol. IL. Pl. LXXVI.

Lampornis Veraguensis, Gould, Bonap. j

Sericotes Veraguensis, Reichenb.

Anthracothorax Veraguensis, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p: 9, pl-

793. fig. 4848.

Lampornis Veraguensis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Thiel. iii. p. 18.

Habitat. Veragua and Costa Rica.

Mr. Bridges “ found this species in the outskirts of the town of David, feeding among the flowers of a large arborescent species of Erythrina.”

87. LAMPORNIS GRAMINEUS + + + * ¢ Vol. IL. Pl. LXXVIL. Trochilus gramineus, Linn. et auct.

—— pectoralis, Lath., Vieill., Steph.

maculatus, Gmel., Vieill.

gularis, Gmel., Lath., Vieill.

—_—

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Trochilus marmeratus, Vieill. Polytmus dominicus, Gray & Mitch., Bonap. Lampornis dominicus, Bonap. Hypophania dominica, Reichenb. * Anthracothorax dominicus, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 9, pl. 792, figs. 4845-46. *Lampornis graminea, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 18.

Habitat. Trinidad, Cayenne, and Guiana.

63. LAWPORNIS VrRIDIS « 6 6 6n . Vol. IJ. Pl. LXXVIII.

Trochilus viridis, Aud. et Vieill., Bonn., Dumont, Drapiez, Temm. Le Colibri eyanure, Trochilus viridis, Less. * Chalybura viridis, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 10. *Agyrtria viridis, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 7, pl. 765, figs. 4771-72.

Habitat. Porto Rico.

89. LAMPORNIS AURULENTUS. . . . . Vol. II. Pl. UXXIX.

Trochilus aurulentus, Vieill. et auct. Polyimus aurulentus, Vieill. margaritaceus, Gray & Mitch. Lampornis margaritaceus, Bonap. Eulampis aurulentus, Bonap. Margarochrysis aurulenta, Reichenb. Trochilus dominicus, Linn., Gmel., Lath., female ? Polytmus dominicus, Briss., female ?

Habitat. St. Domingo.

90. LAMPORNIS VIRGINALIS, Gould . . . Vol. II. Pl. LXXX.

Crown and all the upper surface bronzy green; wings light pur- plish brown, shining greenish wax-yellow ; chest and centre of the abdomen black, passing into green on the flanks; upper tail-coverts brilliant bronzy green; two centre tail-feathers rich bronze, the re- mainder fine purple; margined and tipped with bluish black; bill black; feet dark brown.

Total length 44 inches; bill 13; wing 22; tail Ii; tarsi 4.

Habitat. The Island of St. Thomas.

If I have led my friend, Alfred Newton, Esq., into an error, by causing him to state in the ‘Ibis,’ vol. i. p. 375, that the Lampornis aurulentus is found in the Island of St. Thomas : it was quite unin- tentional on my part. Since we made an examination and com- parison of specimens of aurulentus from St. Domingo, with those, which we believed to be identical, from St. Thomas, I have received numerous other examples from the latter island, a careful considera- tion of which induces me to regard them as distinct; and as such, I have described them under the name of Lampornis virginalis. The difference between this new species and awrulentus is very marked : it is of much smaller size, and has a shorter, more square, and differently coloured tail, the two centre feathers being rich bronze

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instead of purplish black ; the throat-mark is richer; the upper tail- coverts are very much finer and more brilliant; and the bill is shorter.

91. LAMPORNIS PORPHYRURUS . - + «+ > Vol Tie Pl TAXI.

Trochilus porphyrurus, Shaw, Steph. bromicolor, Less. —_ = Filoresit, Boure. Polytmus porphyrurus, Gray & Mitch. Lampornis Mango, Gosse. porphyrurus, Bonap. floresi, Bonap. Floresia porphyrura, Reichenb. *Anthrocothorax porphyrurus, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 8, pl. 794. figs. 4849-50. * Lampornis porphyrura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 19.

Habitat. Jamaica.

‘This species differs from all its allies in the female or the young male assimilating to the male in the colour of the tail, which is quite contrary to what occurs in the females of the other species; unlike them also, the female of this species has a different and more beautiful gorget than the male. This is one of the anomalies which

cannot be explained, inasmuch as in structure, in size, and other .

characters it is a true Lampornis.

The genus Hulampis now claims our attention. It is composed of four species, the distinguishing features of which are their lumi- nous upper tail-coverts. These broad and glittering feathers, re- sembling: plates of shining metal, have doubtless been designed for no special purpose connected with the habits of the bird, but for mere ornament; but such characters, trifling though they be, are of no little use in enabling us to group together nearly allied species. It will be recollected that in some genera—that of Hypuroptila for in- stance—the under and not the upper tail-coverts are extraordinarily developed ; and many other instances might be cited of a similar development of other parts of the plumage, for which no other use

but that of mere ornament can be conceived. The members of this \

genus differ from most others in the perfect similarity in the colour- ing of the sexes. So far as I am aware, they are all confined to the. West Indian Islands. /

Genus EuLaAmpis, Boie. 92, EuLAMPIs JUGULARIS- + - + + - Vol.IL. PE iok XL

Trochilus jugularis, Linn., Gmel., Lath. Temm. - Eulampis jugularis, Bonap-, Reichenb. Polytmus jugularis, Gray & Mitch. Trochilus auratus, Gmel., Less. granatinus, Lath. ———— Bancrofti, Lath. cyanomelas, Gmel.

cae nat

‘

Trochilus violaceus, Gmel. auritus, Vieill. Polytmus Cayennensis violaceus, Briss. Topaza violacea, Gray & Mitch. Certhia prasinoptera, Lath., Sparrm. Cynanthus ? jugularis, Jard. Trochilus cyaneus, Lath. —__———_ venustissimus, Gmel. * Bulampis jugularis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 17.

Habitat. The Islands of Nevis and Martinique.

93. EULAMPIS HOLOSERICEUS . . . . Vol. II. Pl. LX XXIII. Trochilus holosericeus, Linn. et auct. Polytmus mexicanus, Briss. Trochilus aurigaster, Shaw. Polytmus holosericeus, Gray & Mitch. Eulampis holosericeus, Bonap. Sericotes holosericeus, Reichenb. * Anthracothorax holosericeus, Reichenb.Troch. Enum. p. 9, pl. 793 fig. 484:7. * Trochilus atrigaster, “ Shaw,” Cabanis. * Bulampts holosericea, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 17.

Habitat. Islands of Nevis? and Martinique ? 94. EULAMPIS CHLOROLEMUS, Gould. . Vol. II. Pl. LXXXIV.

Sericotes chlorolaimus, Reichenb. Eulampus chlorolemus, Bonap. * Anthrocothorax chlorolaimus, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 9. * Hulampis chlorolaema, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 17, note.

Habitat. The Islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix.

“ This bird,” says Mr. Edward Newton, speaking of the Hum- ming-Birds of St. Thomas and St. Croix, “ breeds from the end of March to the end of June. It is no easy matter to find its nest ; for on approaching within two or three yards of where it is, the bird, if it is on, is sure to fly at you, and then retreating remains suspended a few seconds just above your head, when it darts off and perches on some dead twig, most likely on the very tree which holds its nest. It does not stay here long, but takes short flights into the air, returning to the same place and, when there, showing its im- patience by a continual flirting, or rather twitching of its wings. If you then retire, keeping your eye on the bird, it will presently dart straight on to its nest, leaving it, however, at the least movement on your part. ‘This species is not particular as to the tree on which it builds, as I have found nests on the Silk-cotton, Mango, Man- chioneel, Avocado-Pear (Laurus persea, Linn.). They are placed on a horizontal branch, from half an inch to two inches thick, and are composed of cotton or the down of a species of Cactus, studded on the outside with white Lichen or shreds of bark, the whole structure measuring nearly two inches across, and built at the height

69

of from about five to fifteen feet from the ground, sometimes concealed by leaves, at others on an almost naked bough.”—J6is, vol. i. p. 140.

Mr. Newton informs me that the yellow of the base of the bill and gape of this bird shows rather conspicuously.

95. EuLAmPiIs LoncIRosTRIs, Gould.

In its size, general plumage, and style of colouring, this bird is very similar to the EZ. chlorolemus; but the much greater length and curvature of its bill will, I am sure, satisfy the most sceptical that it is quite distinct. I possess two examples of this, both of which are unfortunately ina very bad state of plumage. One of these was presented to me by my valued friend Sigismund Rucker, Esq., the other I obtained on the continent; I could gain no information whatever as to its native locality. The average length of the bill in E. chlorolemus is three-quarters of an inch, while that of B. longi- rostris is nearly an inch and a quarter.

Habitat. Unknown.

There is scarcely a more isolated form in the family of T’rocht- lide than that for which the generic name of Lafresnaya was pro- posed by Bonaparte in honour of the venerable Baron de Lafresnaye, and it gives me great pleasure to assist in perpetuating the name of a French nobleman, lately deceased, who devoted the leisure hours of a long life to the pleasing study of natural history.

Strictly confined to the Andes, one of the species is quite equa- torial, the others fly several degrees further north. The males are very boldly coloured, the brilliant green of their throats and flanks being beautifully relieved by the velvety black of the abdomen. The females have none of these contrasted colours, their entire under surface being spangled with green on a white or a buff ground. The species known are very much alike except in the colouring and markings of the tail,—one of them having the four outer feathers white tipped with purplish black, while the same feathers in another are buff tipped with bronzy brown, and the tail of the third is white tipped with greenish bronze.

‘Genus Larresnaya, Bonap. 06. LAFRESNAYA FLAVICAUDATA . . .~ Vol. II. Pl. LXXXV. Trochilus flavieaudatus, Fras. Lafresnayi, Boiss. Calothoraz Lafresnayi, Gray & Mitch. Lafresnayi flavicaudatus, Bonap. —_——__—— flavicaudata, Reichenb., Bonap. *Entima Lafresnayi, Cab. et Hein. Mas. Hein. Theil iii. p. 51. Habitat. The high lands of New Granada. Common at Bogota and Popayan; and probably in the northern parts of Ecuador.

Oe Tigrinya Gavt sows VOLIL Pl. LXXXVE

Trochilus Gayi, Boure. et Muls. Calothorax Gayi, Gray & Mitch.

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Lafresnaya gayi, Bonap. : *Entima Gayi, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 51.

Habitat. Ecuador and Peru.

98. LAFRESNAYA SAULZ. * Trochilus Saule, Boure. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 309. * Calothorax Saulit, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 110, Calothorax, sp. 3. * Lafresnaya Saule, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 68, Lafres- nayda, Sp. 3. * Saul, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 11.

Habitat. Unknown: supposed to be Popayan.

Since writing my account of Lafresnaya Gayi I have received many additional examples, all of which had white tails tipped with purplish black; but I possess fully adult examples of a white-tailed bird named Sau/e, by M. Bourcier, in which the tippings are bronzy green. My specimens were brought by Delattre; but from what locality,is unknown. The difference mentioned seems to warrant the belief that the bird is distinct ; and I therefore give it a place in this synopsis, notwithstanding the opinion to the contrary expressed in my account of L. Gayi.

Those who have not closely studied the Humming-Birds have but little idea how diversified are their forms; the birds next to be considered are unlike all the other members of the family. The species are short, thick-set birds, with a very peculiar style of plumage, have their crowns plated with metal-like feathers, and bills as straight and sharp as needles ; and woe to any bird, should say, which gave offence to the members of this genus.

I am exceedingly puzzled with respect to the species of this form ; that is, I am at a loss to determine whether they are two, three, four, or five in number. First, with regard to Johanne, whose under- surface is black, and frontal mark violet-blue; I have always re- garded this colouring as indicative of the adult, but I am in doubt whether the skins which frequently accompany them from Bogota, and which assimilate in size and form, but differ in having a green frontlet and a dull-green upper and under surface, are the females or young males of this bird, or if they be distinct. Of the Ludovicie, which comes from Bogota, I have many examples, all of which are very uniform in size and style of colouring. From Quito I have another bird assimilating to the Ludovicie most closely in colouring, but which is about a fifth larger in all its admeasurements. Accom- panying the specimens from this latter locality is one without any frontal mark whatever; in other respects it is precisely like the rest, and, I am sure, is a fully adult bird. Is this the female of the Quitan birds, or a distinct species? I have never seen examples in this state of plumage among the numerous specimens sent from Bogota. I think I shall be right in regarding the Ecuadorian bird as distinct, and I therefore propose for it the name that of rectirostris.

71

Genus DoryFera, Gould. | (Aépy, hasta, et pépw, fero; Lance-bill.)

Generic characters.

Male.— Bill \ong, basal half straight, apical half inclined upwards and pointed ; wings of moderate size; tail rounded, the feathers broad and rigid ; ¢arsi partly clothed ; Aind doe and nail as long as the middle toe and nail ; forehead luminous ; plumage adpressed.

Female.—I believe the female is destitute of the forehead mark ; but this is uncertain.

99. DorYFERA JOHANNE .. .. . Vol. II. Pl. LUXXXVII.

Trochilus Johanne, Boure. . Mellisuga Johanne, Gray & Mitch. Trochilus (Doryfera) violifrons, Gould. Dorifera Johanne, Bonap. * Hemistephania Johanne, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9. * Helianthea Johanne, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pl..731. figs. 4675-76. * Doryphora Johanne, Cab.et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p.78, note.

Habitat. New Granada.

100. DoryrerA Lupovicim . . . . Vol. II. Pl. LXXXVIII.

Trochilus Ludovicie, Bource. et Muls. Mellisuga Ludovicie, Gray & Mitch. Dorifera ludovicie, Bonap. * Hemistephania Ludovicie, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9. * Helianthea Ludovicia, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pl. 731. figs. 4673-74. Doryphora Eudovicie, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 77.

Habitat. New Granada.

101. DoryFERA RECTIROSTRIS, Gould.

Bill and feet black; tarsi clothed with brown feathers ; forehead brilliant glittering green ; crown and back of the neck reddish bronze, passing into dull green on the back ; upper tail-coverts washed with blue; tail black, tipped with greyish-brown, largely on the external feathers, slightly on the middle ones; under surface olive; under tail-coverts grey ; wings purplish brown.

Total length 5 inches; bill 1}; wing 23; tail 13.

Habitat. Ecuador.

How remarkable it is that development and even beauty should be bestowed upon the under tail-coverts of a bird! yet this is often found to be the case: the Marabou Stork may be cited as an in- stance in point among the larger birds, and the genera Eriocnemis, Erythronota, &c. among the Trochilide. In no group, however, is this feature so conspicuously marked as in the members of the succeeding genus Chalybura ; there it is carried to its maximum and is rendered so much the more apparent from the striking contrast of the snow-white plumed under tail-coverts with the dark or black

72

colouring of the tail-feathers. These birds form a very natural section of the Trochilide. Venezuela, New Granada, and Panama may be regarded as their head quarters,—two of the species, C. Buf- foni and C. ceruleogaster, being frequently sent in collections from

Bogota. : Although the sexes of this genus of birds are very differently

coloured, the females have the plumed under tail-coverts as well as the males. : Genus Cuatysura, Reichenb. 102. CHaLyBuRA BuFFONI. Hypuroptila Buffoni. . . - + - > Vol. II. Pl. LXXXIX.

Trochilus Buffonii, Less., Sard. Polyimus Buffoni, Gray & Mitch. Lampornis buffoni, Bonap., Jard. *Chalybura Buffoni, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p.10; Cab. et Hein.

Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 20. *Agyrtria Buffonii, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 7, pl. 766. figs. 4773-74. Habitat. Venezuela and New Granada.

103. CHALYBURA UROCHRYSEA, Gould. Hypuroptila urochrysea, Gould . . + + + Vol. II. Pl. XC. Hypuroptila urochrysa, Gould in Proe. of Zool. Soc. part xxix.

p- 198. Habitat. Panama. 104. CHALYBURA CERULEOGASTER, Gould. Hypuroptila ceeruleogaster, Gould. “9 > eee Vol, TE. Pl. XW. Trochilus ( Glaucis ?) ceruleogaster, Gould. Polytmus ceruleogaster, Gray & Mitch.

Lampornis ceruleigaster, Bonap. * Oyanochloris coeruleiventris, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 10.

*Agyrtria coeruleiventris, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 7, pl. 77. * Chalybura caeruleiventris, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 20. Habitat. New Granada.

105. CHALyBURA? IsauRz, G'ould.

Hypuroptila Isaure, Gould in Proce. of Zool. Soc. part xxix. p- 198.

Head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts, flanks, and abdomen coppery bronze, inclining to purple on the lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts ; wings purplish-brown; tail very dark bronze, inclining to purple; throat and breast grass-green ; under tail coverts white ; upper mandible black; under mandible fleshy with a black tip; tarsi yellow or flesh colour.

Total length 42 inches ; bill 145; wing 23; tail 1}; tarsi q.

Habitat. The Bocca del Toro in Costa Rica.

73

The specimen from which the above description was taken, is somewhat immature; it is, however, sufficiently advanced to show that it would have, when adult, a fine green breast; but whether the green colour would extend over the abdomen, I am unable to say. It is nearly equal in size to the C. urochrysea, C. Buffoni, and C. ceruleigastra ; but it has a shorter wing and a more rounded tail than either of those species, and the under tail-coverts, though white, are less plume-like in form. It is just possible that it may be necessary to separate this bird into a new genus when we see it in its fully adult state; but it appears at present to be most nearly allied to the members of the genus in which I have provisionally placed. I received this bird from M. Edouard Verreaux, of Paris, many years ago, and I have never seen another.

The name of Jsaure was suggested to me by my late highly valued friend the Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who wished thus to convey a compliment to Madame la Baronne de Lafresnaye, the niece of Montbeillard, the able coadjutor of the celebrated Buffon.

Genus IotamaA, Growld. (“Iov, viola, et Aaupds, gula.)

Generic characters.

Male.— Bill considerably longer than the head and slightly arched ; wings long and curved ; primaries rigid, of moderate length, and forked; farsi clothed ; feet rather small ; hind toe shorter than the middle toe; nails short and curved.

This genus was proposed for the Trochilus Schreibersii of Lod- diges; and of this form Mr. G. N. Lawrence, of New York, has made us acquainted with a second species in his Jolema frontals. Both these birds inhabit the eastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador and forests bordering the River Napo.

106. IovzMa FRontTaALis, Lawr. . . . - Vol. Il. Pl. XCII. Habitat. The head-waters of the Napo.

107. IonmmA ScuREIBERSI . . . . . . Vol. II. Pl. XCIIL.

Trochilus Schreibersii, Lodd. MS. Calothorax? Schreibersii, Gray & Mitch. Thalurania Schreibersii, Bonap. Tonolaima Schreibersii, Reich. Campylopterus Schreiberst, Bonap.

Habitat. The forests bordering the Upper Rio Negro and the Napo.

The Blanes composing the Andean genera to which the names of Heliodoxa and Leadbeatera have been given are all truly beautiful birds. ‘They are of