BOURCIERIA TORQUATA.
Collared Inca.
Ornismia torquata, Boiss. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 6.
Mellisnga torquata, G ray and Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 12.
Bourcieria torquatus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 73, Bourcieria, sp. 2.
--------------- torquata, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.
T he present is one of the best-known species of the well-defined Andean genus of Humming Birds, to which
the Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte has given the appellation of Bourcieria, in order to assist in perpetuating
the name of a gentleman familiar to every naturalist, as the possessor of one of the finest collections
of the Trochilidce iu Europe, and who, by his personal researches in South America, has added largely to
our knowledge of this charming group.
Speaking in a wide sense, the high lauds of the great country of Columbia is the native habitat of this fine
species. Most of the collections from Bogota and Popayan contain examples. Mr. Mark tells me that
it frequents the Paramos or upland grassy districts, and that it extracts its food from the blossoms of the
shrubby plants common to such localities, the wild Guava being always resorted to when in flower.
Judging from the large size of its wings and its general contour, we may conclude that, like its allies, its
powers of flight are very great.
It will be seen that the colours of the male are very decided, the white breast of the fully adult birds
offering a striking contrast to the jet-black of the surrounding plumage. The female is much smaller than
the male, and although dressed in a somewhat similar style of plumage, the markings are never so well
defined, the blue crown is absent, the white gorget is less pure, and the surrounding plumage obscure green
instead of black.
The male has the forehead, back of the neck, mantle, ear-coverts, and sides of the face, black with
green reflexions ; on the centre of the crown a nearly triangular mark of blue; shoulders, spurious
wing, the three innermost secondaries, back and upper tail-coverts deep grass-green ; chin and throat black,
each feather tipped with greenish blue; on the breast a broad gorget of pure white ; abdomen black, with
reflexions of green on the tips of the feathers; thighs black ; tarsi white ; toes yellowish rose-colour; wings
purplish brown ; two centre tail-feathers dark olive-green, the remainder pure white tipped with dark olive-
green, and extending down the external margin of the outer feather for three-fourths of its length; bill
black.
The female has the head and upper surface bronzy grass-green; no blue on the crown; wings and tail as
in the male; the throat white speckled with green, and the white gorget dull and clouded.
The figures are of the natural size; the plant is a species of Brugmansia, common in the country frequented
by the birds.