S R IO C X E M IS B Q R B IG N T
ERIOCNEMI S D’ORBIGNYI .
D’Orbig-ny’s Puff-leg\
Trocliilus D'Orbignyi, Bourc. e t Muls. in Ann. Soc. Sci. de Lyon, 1846, p. 315.
Phemonoe D'Orbignyi, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col., p . 9.
Eriocnemis D'Orbignyi, Reichenb. Troch. En um ., p . 6, pi. 741. fig. 4697.
Eriocnemys orbignyi, Bonap. in Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Hylockaris D ' Orbignyi, Gray an d Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocliaris, sp. 10.
A s in g l e specimen (apparently an adult male) of this bird graces the collection in the Museum of the Jardin
des Plantes, at Paris. This individual was, I believe, brought to Europe by M. D’Orbigny, and was
procured either in Peru or Bolivia. The Eriocnemis D'Orbignyi differs from all the other species of the
genus I have yet seen, in the possession of a blue frontlet; in size it is very similar to E . vestita, from
which, however, as well as from all the others, it differs in several well-marked specific particulars.
The unique specimen contained in the Paris Museum serves to show how little acquainted we are with
the Humming-Birds of the countries to the southward of Ecuador. That both Peru and Bolivia possess
many species as yet unknown, there seems to be but little doubt.
The following is a description of this bird taken from the Paris specimen :—
Forehead violet blue; all the upper surface uniform bronzy grass-green; throat and under surface
glittering golden green, inclining to blue on the centre of the throat and chest; tail steel or bluish black.
The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Howardia Caracasetisis.