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CAMPYLOPTERUS ENSIPENNIS, Swaim.
Blue-throated. Sabre-wing-.
Trochilm ensipennis, Swains. Zool. HL, vol. ii. pl. 107.—Less. Les Troch., pp. 124, 127.
pis. 46, 47.
Campyloptm'w ensipennis, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., pp. xliii, 124. pl. 35. Ib. Traité
d’Om., p. 287.—Ib. Ind. Gen. et Syn. des Ois. du gen. Trochilm, p. vi.—Bonap.
Consp. Gen. Av., p. 71, Campylopterm, sp. 3.—Reick. Aufz. der Col., p. 11.—
Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250.—Jardine, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist.,
vol. xx. 1847, p. 372.
Polytmm ensipennis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 107, Polytmus, sp. 2.
T he Campylopterus ensipennis is one of the most powerful species of the genus. The boldness of its
markings and the brightness of its colouring render it also one of the most beautiful. Although the female
is not so brightly coloured as her mate, she assimilates more closely to him in her dress than do the females
of the other brilliantly coloured species to theirs; she is, however, somewhat smaller, and has the blue
of the throat less conspicuous, and separated from the sides of the face by a white stripe which passes from
the base of the bill to beneath the eye.
The West Indian Islands appear to be the native habitat of this fine species: in all probability it also
visits some parts of the South American continent, but this has not yet been positively ascertained.
The following extract from Mr. Kirk’s notes on the birds of the island of Tobago, published by Sir
William Jardine, Bart., in the twentieth volume of the “ Annals and Magazine of Natural History,” above
referred to, comprises all that is at present known respecting this fine birdJpgffi
“ Feeds on ants, small flies and sweets, and is particularly fond of the blossoms of the wild and common
plantain tree; but whether from the circumstance that these blossoms are generally attended by numerous
herds of ants, which form the principal part of its food, or for the purpose of extracting sweets, or
perhaps both, I am unable to determine; but in all I have dissected, I have found the stomach to contain
ants and portions of small gnats. It is found principally in the woods, by rivulets and in low marshy
places.”
The male has the head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts, sides of the neck, under surface of the body
and under tail-coverts deep shining golden-green, passing into grass-greeu on the upper tail-coverts, and
particularly glittering on the nape and back of the neck; wings purplish-brown; chin and throat deep
lazuline-hlue; two centre tail-feathers greenish-bronze, the next on each side dark steel-blue; the three
outer on each side steel-hlue at the base, the apical two-thirds being pure white; bill black; feet dark
brown.
The female differs in having the blue on the throat less extensive, and separated from the green of the
sides of the face by a streak of greyish-white; the centre of the abdomen is also grey.
Like the males of other members of the genus, the very old male of this species has the shaft of the outer
primaries very much dilated, which we may suppose adds considerably to its wing-powers.
The Plate represents the birds of the natural size. The plant is the Dipladenia Harrisii.