nest is deep in proportion to its width—externally three inches and a half deep, internal depth a little under one
inch and three quarters, width within one inch and tw o-tenths; mouth slightly contracted. Externally it is formed
o f fine fibrous grass woven together, and attached by one side, and bottom, to some thin upright tw ig s ; internally
it is thickly lined with a felt, formed o f the pappus o f some composite flower. When on the wing, the appearance
o f this bird is singular. Like others o f the genus, it moves from place to place with a rapidity which may be compared
to that o f Syrphus among Diptera, and Sphinx among Mo ths; 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 o f the
species, which produces the humming noise. I never saw any other bird, where the force o f its wings appeared
(as in a butterfly) so powerful in proportion to the weight o f 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 o f its wings. Although flying from flower to flower in
search o f food, its stomach generally contained abundant remains o f insects, which I suspect are much more the
object o f its search than honey is. The note o f this species, like that o f nearly the whole family, is extremely
shrill.”—Darwin, Zoology o f the Beagle, part iii. Birds, p. 111.
“ The Troch. gigas is found in all the central provinces o f Chile; it is seen about Valparaiso during the spring
and summer months, feeding on the flowers o f Pourretia coarctata and Lobelia polyphylla in preference to others. It
generally builds its nest near a little rivulet, frequently on a solitary twig or branch over the water; the nest is
beautifully constructed, and is composed o f moss and the down o f a species o f Gnaphalium. Eggs w h ite ; iris dark
brown. Catches flies.”—Bridges in Proc. Zool. Soc. part vi. p. 114.
The forms to which we now proceed are mostly o f large size, have straight lengthened bills, and are very
gorgeously coloured. These straight and prolonged bills are in unison with the flora with which they are associated,
particularly such deep tubular flowers as those o f the genera Brugmansia, Lepageria, Nematanthus, Tacsonia, Alstrce-
meria, Dipladenia, Sic.
The first genus is that o f Docimastes. Of this remarkable form, the single species known stands alone among
Humming-Birds for the great length o f its bill. Nature here appears to have carried the development o f this organ
to its maximum ; and how wonderfully is it adapted for exploring the lengthened tubular flowers from which the
bird obtains its insect fo od !
Genus D o c im a s t e s , Gould.
(Aoicinafa, exploro.)
Generic characters.
Male.— Bill o f extraordinary length, exceeding that o f the head and body, and inclining upwards; wings long
and pointed; tail moderately long and forked; tarsi short and partially clothed; fe e t small; hind toe shorter than
the middle t o e ; fa c e and gorget d ull; sides o f the chest luminous.
Female.—Unadorned.
2 5 8 . D o c im a s t e s e n s i f e r u s ................................................................................................................................. y 0 l j y p j 233
Docimastes Derbyanus, Licht. in Mus. Berlin.
------------ ensifera, Cab. et Hein. Mus Hein. Theil iii. p. 77.
Habitat. Columbia and Ecuador.
Specimens from the neighbourhood o f Bogota differ from those received from Quito in being o f much smaller
siz e ; but I consider these as mere races of one and the same species, for I can see no characters on which a specific
distinction could be founded.
The next species is interesting for its great size, the elegance o f its proportions, and the beauty and harmony
o f its colours. This new and extraordinary bird I have named Eugenia Imperatrix in honour o f the Empress o f the
French.
Genus E u g e n ia , Gould.
§Eugenia, nom. propr.)
Generic characters.
Male.—Bill straight or slightly inclining upwards, longer than the head; wings lo n g ; primaries r ig id ; tail long
and forked, the feathers narrow and unyielding; tarsi partially clothed; fe e t small; hind toe long ; nail moderate;
fa c e luminous.
Female.—Unadorned.
259. E u g e n i a I m p e r a t r i x .............................................................................................................................. Vol. IV. PI. 2 3 4 .
Habitat. Ecuador.
“ Professor Jameson’s specimens o f this fine bird were obtained in the neighbourhood o f Auca, on the road to
Nanegal, at about 6000 or 7000 feet elevation. They were feeding oh the A Istrcemerue, Datura not being found in
that locality.”—Jameson and Fraser in Ibis, vol. i. p. 400.
The members o f the genus Helianthea, distinguished by their star-like frontlets and luminous under-surfaces
appear to range next to the preceding. Three o f them (namely, H. typica, H. Bonapartei, and H. Eos') are quite
typ ical; but the H. Lutetia and H. violifera differ somewhat in their colouring, the lower part of the body o f the
two latter species not being luminous, while they assimilate in all other respects. Dr. Reichenbach’s separation of
the H. typica and H. Bonapartei into a separate genus (Hypochrysa) cannot, in my opinion, for a moment be admitted.
Genus H e l ia n t h e a , Gould.
('’HAioy, sol, et avQos, flos.)
Generic characters.
Male.—Bill long, straight and cylindrical; wings moderately long and powerful; tail of medium size and slightly
forked when closed; tarsi extremely short and clothed with feathers; fe e t very small; hind toe the shortest; forehead
and under-surface luminous.
Female.—Destitute o f luminous colouring.
The members o f this genus frequent the Andes for at least eight degrees on each side o f the equator.
260. H e l i a n t h e a t y p i c a ...............................................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. 235.
Trochilus porphyrogaster, Licht. in Mus. o f Berlin.
Habitat. New Granada. Is exceedingly common in the neighbourhood o f Bogota. A large race occurs near
Pamplona.
261. H e l i a n t h e a B o n a p a r t e i . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 236.
Hypochrysa Bonaparti, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 739. figs. 4683-84.
Trochilus chrysogaster, Licht. in Mus. Berlin.
Habitat. New Granada. Examples frequently occur in collections from Bogota.
262. H e l i a n t h e a Eos, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 237.
Habitat. Paramos da los Conejos, near Merida in Columbia.
263. H e l ia n t h e a L u t e t i .<e ....................................................................................................................Vol. IV. PL 238.
Habitat. Popayan and Ecuador. Professor Jameson and Mr. Fraser state that “ This bird is found in the
valleys o f Lloa and Pelogalli, but not nearer Quito.”— Tits, vol. i. p. 400.
264. H e l i a n t h e a v io l i f e r a , G o u ld ............................................................................................................ Vol. IV. PI. 239.
Habitat. “ In provinz Chulimani au Cordilera ” in Bolivia ( fVarszewicz) .
Genus H e l io t r y p h a , Gould.
("HAtoy, sol, et Tpv<ftr/, luxuria.)
Generic characters.
Male.—B ill straight and o f the same length as the head; wings rather long; tail long and forked; tarsi
p artia lly clothed; fe e t sm a ll; hind toe rather shorter than the middle o n e ; forehead and throat luminous.
Female— Destitute o f luminous colouring on the throat.
The members o f this genus, two in nnmber, differ from those o f Hdmigelm in the absence o f any band of
white on the chest and in having a lengthened and deeply-forked tail.
265. TT D . Vol. IV. PI. 240. H e l io t r y p h a P a r z u d a k i ..................................................................................................................................................
Ramphomicron dispar, Reich. Troch. Enum. p. 10.