BAUCIS FRASERI, Covld.
Wa/ter & CeAn. /mp
GLAUCIS FRASERI, Gould.
Fraser’s Hermit.
G la u c is R u c k e r i, Sclat. in Proc. o f Z ool. Soc., part xxviii. p. 2 9 6 .
“ M r . F r a s e r collected at Babahoyo, in Ecuador, specimens o f 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. F raseri differs from G. Ruckeri in being rather larger in size, in having a smaller amount
o f rusty red on the chesty and in having a decidedly grey breast; in other respects the two birds are
similar.”
The foregoing paragraph appears in the Introduction, and I really have nothing to add to it respecting
the history o f this bird. In favour o f its being distinct, I may remark that it is quite an exceptional case
for a species to range over so many degrees o f latitude as those between the country frequented by the G.
Ruckeri and that o f which the present bird is a native. Whether the G. Ruckeri and G. Fraseri will prove to
be local varieties o f one and the same species, time and a more intimate knowledge o f the Trochilidce inhabiting
the western coast o f America can alone determine; for the present they should, in my opinion, be regarded
as two different species. Whether any variation occurs in the outward appearance o f the sexes is entirely
unknown; in all probability they will be precisely similar in the colouring of their plumage.
Mr. Fraser states that this species was “ found on the edge o f the virgin forest; always solitary; generally
in dark and lonely places, and very restless.”
All the upper surface and wing-coverts green, inclining to bronzy brown on the head; wings deep
purplish brown ; two centre tail-feathers green, deepening into black and tipped with white; the remainder
white at the base and at the tip, the intermediate space being occupied by a broad zone of black; an obscure
line o f buffy white descends from the base o f the bill; on each side behind the eye a greyish-white spo t;
throat blackish brown, succeeded by a spot o f dull rusty red; breast and flanks deep olive-green mingled
with g r e y ; abdomen g rey ; under tail-coverts lustrous olive-green, some of them margined with buff;
upper mandible black; lower mandible yellow, with a dark tip ; legs and feet flesh-colour ; irides hazel.
The figures are o f the size o f life. The plant is the C attleya maxima.