ERIOCNEMIS DERBIANUS .
Derby’s Puff-leg.
Trochïlus Dei'byi, De L a tt. e t Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 306.
jEnopus Derbyi, Gould in Proc. o f Zool. Soc., p a rt xv. p. 17.
dei'byi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p . 8 0 , Ei'iopus, sp. 7.
Eriocnemy8 derbyanus, Bonap. Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Threptia Dei'byi, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 9.
T hat the study of the great family of the Trochilidm, when all the species are known and the areas of
habitat enjoyed by each are ascertained, will tend to throw some light on what may or may not be termed
species I think there can be little doubt. The rations members of the genera Oreolrochihs, Oxypogon and
RampLmcrm live at elevations varying from 10,000 to 16,000 feet, and are confined to such limited areas,
that a single cone like that of Chimborazo or Cotopaxi is the extent of their range; on the other hand,
many of the extinct volcanos have species peculiar to the shrubby regions on their inner sides. Surely
such facts as these are worthy of a greater share of the attention of philosophers than has hitherto been
devoted to them. The bird figured on the accompanying Plate serves well to illustrate the foregoing
passage, for up to the present time it is only known to inhabit the extinct volcano of Purace, where
it was discovered by the late M. De Lattre during his travels in the little-trodden countries of New
■ W Derbmnm is a species which differs very remarkably from ever, other member of the
genus, both in the coal-black colouring of its feathered legs and in the brilliant metallic golden green of
fts upper and under tail-coverts. No other traveller but De Lattre has, I believe, obtained examples of tins
bird- by him, however, at least forty of both sexes were procured, all of which realized very high prices.
These examples were so precisely aUke both in colour and markings that they scarcely presented a shade
of difference. I I , , I _ , , H
In the year 1846, MM. De Lattre and Bourcier named this species in honour of the late Earl of Derby,
a just tribute of respect to that distinguished nobleman, whose life was certainly not rendered less happy by
his study of the branch of natural science to which he was so much attached.
The male has awash of green on the forehead; the head, all the upper surface and wing-coverts of a
golden bronzy hoe ; all the under surface shining golden green ; wings purplish brown ; upper and under
tail-coverts brilliant metallic green; tail, feathers of the tarsi, and bill black.
The female has a wash of green on the forehead; all the upper surface golden bronze; under surface
similar in hue, but lighter and more brilliant; upper and under tail-coverts metallic goUcn jgm g gB H g l
purplish brown ; tail black; feathers of the tarsi black towards the knee and greyish white near feet.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the size of life on the Mamllarm leptosepala.