164



A French Member



JEgyrtria milleri. The smallest bird of the whole consign¬

ment ; smaller I think than my late lamented Bellona, truly no

bigger than a, bumble-bee. Greenish on top, with brilliant turquoise

blue head and traces of the same lovely shade by the throat, which is

whitish. Not a common species, leastways not in that particular

part of Central America, where its habitat is mostly Colombia.

One arrived looking lively and well, only to fall shortly into an ill-

timed moult, which, in spite of all nursing, brought on bis death

after two months or so of a hopeless struggle. I found his little

body literally covered and choked with the new quills


Sanzerottea felici. Another charming genus ; almost, if not

quite as tiny as the above, but wearing a uniform dress of the most

intense emerald green, shot in places with golden reflections and

varied only by the steel-blue tail and by the reddish shading of the

rump. Several individuals arrived in good condition ; one of these,

perhaps the most brilliant, has become so tame that if I hold out a

small stick to him he will at once buzz on to it and quietly proceed to

preen or shake out his shining feathers, with a satisfied air of one who

knows a clever trick and enjoys its performance. Very fond of flies

and like JE. fimbriata a demon of the air for quickness of flight.


Ghrysolampis elatus = ( Moschitus ). This species, also one of

the smaller Golibris, is so miraculously lovely that, not having at

my disposal the painted prose of a Wilde or the colour music

of an Albeniz, * I will attempt no closer detailing of its many

beauties than to say that a glowing ruby forms its crest, a golden

topaz, iridescent with green fires, sparkles on its throat, both colours

so resplendent that the whole of this tiny sprite, when it dances in

the rays in the sun, appears like a living, leaping flame, flashing

forth as it were a light of its own ; a deep, silky maroon adorns

the upperparts; the tail, which is rich brown tipped with black,

spreads itself out like a fan whenever the bird is buzzing about,

a prey to some excitement, or if he wishes to rest after a bath,

sunning himself upon a favourite twig. Although a sadly delicate

species, quite a number w T ere safely landed, amongst them several

babies of uncertain sex and a young cock, already mentioned in

these pages, showing on his chest a single golden spot. A marvellous



* Vide “ L’Oiseau de Feu.”



