CALYPTE COSTÆ.
Costa’s Calypte.
Ornismya Costee, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 294.—Ib. Ann. de la Soc. Sci. de Lyon, 1840,
p. 225. pl. 2.—Voy. de la Vénus, pl. 2.—Longuem. et Parz. Rev. Zool. 1840,
p. 71.
Mellimga Costee, Gray and Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 83.
Selasphoms Costee, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 82, Selasphorus, sp. 4 S ï b . Rev. et Mag. de Zool.
1854, p. 257.
Atthis Costae, Reicbenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 12.
Trochilus Costae, Reichenb. Troch. enumer., p. 10.
H ere we have a very beautiful little bird, conspicuous not only for the rich brilliancy of its bead and throat,
but for the colouring of those parts being of an unusual hue—a glittering metallic-lilac, neither easy to
describe nor to depict, and which can only be feebly represented even with the aid of silver and the finest
copal colours; indeed, to acquire anything like a correct notion of its beauty, the bird itself must be seen,
neither description nor figure giving an adequate idea of its splendour. I am indebted for numerous
specimens of this lovely bird to the late M. Floresi, who collected them in the valleys of the Sierra Madre
in Mexico. From thence, throughout the western part of Mexico, and in some parts of California, the bird
is probably found.
The first description of this bird appeared in tbe “ Revue Zoologique ” for 1839, from the pen of
M. Bourcier, who gave it the specific appellation of Costee, in honour of the Marquis de Costa of Chambery,
the possessor of a very beautiful collection of birds. In the form of its tail, and in the extent of the metallic
colouring of its head and throat, it bears a striking resemblance to the C. Annee, but is at once distinguished
from that species by its smaller size, as well as by the different hue of the head and neck. Of its habits
and economy nothing has yet been recorded.
The sexes present nearly the same differences that are observable in those of C. Annee.
The male has the head, ear-coverts, throat, and the elongated ruff-like feathers on the sides of the neck,
brilliant deep metallic-lilac; all the upper surface and wing-coverts golden-green; wings purple-brown ; six
central tail-feathers bronzy-green; two outer tail-feathers brownish-grey with darker tips; under surface
dull white, washed with bronzy-green on the flanks; bill and feet blackish-brown.
At a younger age the head is of the same hue as the body; a few of the fine feathers of the throat have
appeared; the abdomen is bronzy-green; the apical half of the outer tail-feathers are black, and their tips
white.
In the female the whole of the upper surface is dull golden-green ; under surface dull greyish-white, with
a few dots of brown on the throat; wings purplish-brown; central tail-feathers bronzy-green; lateral
feathers grey at the base, succeeded by deep black, and tipped with white.
The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Logwood (Lignum Catnpechianum).