AUGASTES SCUTATUS.
Natterer’s Yizor-bearer.
Trochilus superbus, Vieill. Ency. M6th. Orn., p a rt ii. p. 561.
scutatus, Natterer.—-Temm. PI. Col. 299. fig. 3.—J a rd . Nat. Lib. Humming-birds,
vol. i. p. 110. pi. 14.
Ornismya Nattererii, Less. Ois. Mouch., p. 75. pi. 16.
Hylocharis superba, Gray and Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, Hylocharis, sp. 29.
Although Vieillot’s appellation of superbus is undoubtedly the first that was applied to this species, I have
been induced to give the preference to the far more appropriate one of scutatus, given to it by M. Natterer.
I am aware that in so doing I am departing from the rule of priority, but I conceive that this departure is
far preferable to continuing the use of a term which is equally descriptive of many other members of the
family, and which would be more applicable to the far lovelier Augastes Lumachellus than to the present
species.
The Augastes scutatus is a native of the interior of Brazil, where the fine specimens contained in the
Collection of the Jardin du Roi at Paris were obtained by that justly celebrated botanist M. Auguste de
Saint-Hilaire; there also were procured the specimens described by the late Mr. John Natterer of Vienna,
and figured by M. Temminck in his “ Planches Coloriees” above-quoted.
No information as to its habits and economy has yet been obtained.
The male has the face and throat clothed with small scale-like feathers of the richest and most luminous
emerald green, the feathers lengthened into a pendent point on the chest; band across the crown and ear-
eoverts deep velvety black; immediately behind the eye a small oblong spot of white; on each side of the
neck a lengthened tuft of feathers of a rich indigo blue, separated from the equally rich indigo blue of the
abdomen by two crescent-shaped marks of deep buff, one on either side of the chest; all the upper surface,
upper and under wing-coverts rich bronzy green 5 wings purplish brown; vent white; under tail-coverts
white spotted with shining green; tail shining metallic green; tarsi clothed with brown feathers; bill black;
feet brown.
Total length, 4 Inches; bill, * ; wing, 24; tail, 14; tarsus, * . B I I
In general colouring the female is very similar to the male, hut the face <s much less bnihant; the blue
tufts on the sides of the neck are much less developed; the crescent-shaped marks on the chest are white
instead of buff; the abdomen is green, with only a tinge of the rich blue; the under tad-coverts are pure
white; and the outer tail-feather on each side is tipped with white.
Total length 3£ inches ; bill, ■§■ > wing, 2 | ; tail, l£ j tarsus, -jV
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. Thebeautiful Orchideous plant is the
Myanthus cernuus.