JGoailtvulJ/CJitiJUtr.dde/tii/t
GLAUCIS MAZEPPA.
Mazeppa Hermit.
Tt'ochilus M a z e p p a , L e ss. L e s Troch., p. 1 8 . pi. 3 ; Jard. N a t. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii..
p . 1 3 0 .
P h a e th o rn is M a z e p p a , Jard. N a t. Lib. H um m in g Birds, vol. ii. p. 1 52.
h irm tu s , Jard. in Ann. and Mag. N a t. H is t ., vo l. xx . p . 3 7 2 .
P o l y tm m m a z e p p a , Gray & Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. ii. p. 1 0 8 , P o h jtm u s, sp. 3 2 .
G la u c is M a z e p p a , Reichenb. A ufz. der Col., p. 15.
In figuring this bird as distinct from G. hirsute, I must frankly admit that I am dealing with a difficulty in
a manner which I believe no ornithologist can say is right or wrong. It has for many years been questionable
whether this small cinnamon-coloured bird be a distinct species or one of the sexes o f G. hirsuta;
and this doubt can never be satisfactorily solved until the bird has been observed in its native country
while breeding, and dissection has been resorted to. As far as my experience goes, we find none o f the
little cinnamon-coloured birds, to which the term Mazeppa has been applied, in Southern Brazil or in the
Andes o f New Granada. In the former country the true G. hirsuta is common; and Mr. Lawrence’s
G. affinis is abundant in the Andes. I must not fail to remark, however, that the true G. hirsuta, besides being
found in Southern Brazil, is also an inhabitant o f the Guianas and Trinidad—localities o f which the G. Mazeppa
is also a native. Under these circumstances o f uncertainty I have thought it best to give a figure o f this
bird on a separate plate, which will at least serve to bring the matter prominently into view, and, I trust,
be the means o f directing the attention o f persons who reside in those countries, particularly Trinidad,
to the investigation o f the subject, so as to set the question at rest.
I believe that the following note by Mr. Kirk has reference to this bird, as I have a specimen in my
collection bearing his name and the locality o f Tobago on the attached label.
“ This little bird,” says Mr. Kirk, “ is the most restless o f 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 suspeuded for
several seconds by the point o f the bill within three feet o f a person’s face, after which it is sure to disappear
like lightning; in these cases it truly assumes an attitude which a stranger might construe into a meditated
attack upon his person. I have often been induced to strike at them with my fowling piece, from their
proximity.”^—* Horse Zoologicse,’ by Sir W. Jardine, Bart., in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. xx. p. 372.
Crown o f the head dull brown ; all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts bronzy green, the latter
fringed with g rey; wings purplish brown; under surface deep fawn-colour fading into buffy white on the
chin ; a small mark behind and a stripe below each eye o f buffy white; two centre tail-feathers green at the
base, the remainder rich deep cinnamon red at the base, the whole crossed near the extremity by a band
o f black, beyond which the tips are white ; upper mandible black; lower mandible yellow at the base, black
at the tip ; feet yellow or flesh-colour.
The figures are o f the size o f life. The plant is the Marsdenia maculata.