444 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



curious group is contained in the genus Aijkeactis. Of rather large size, these birds 

 liave a coloration similarly distributed to that of the species of A'riuoieinig, but the 

 manner of exhibiting this is different. The feathers of the rump are highly luminous, 

 but in order to see the full beauty of these hues, it is necessary to look against ihe 

 feathers, or towards the head, when the brilliancy of the metallic siieen is seen to the 

 best advantage. There arc fotu- species from the western part of South America, 

 from Colombia to Bolivia. The females resemble the males, as do those of the genus 

 Eriocnemis, but have very much less brilliancy on their plumage. 



Cephalokpis and Helloua contain species with more or less lengthened crests, to 

 •which the metallic hues of the jilumage are confined, there being none upon the lower 

 j>art of the body. The crests of the two genera differ much in shape, that of the spe- 

 cies of Cephalo/ejiis being long, rather loose, and terminating in from one to three nar- 

 row feathers extending beyond the rest. That of Jielloini is broad and pointed, of 

 moderate length, and the feathers of the forehead project forward and cover one half 

 the length of the culmcn. The species of this genun are natives of the West Indies. 

 Chrysolampis moschitus is the ruby and tojtaz humming-bird, so called from the bril- 

 liant metallic hues of the to]i of the head and throat. Like the species of Belloiui., the 

 feathers of the forehead ])roject over the culraen, and the male possesses all the beauty 

 of Jilumage, the female being a ]>lainly dressed, quiet-looking little bird. The species 

 is of considerable commercial iniportancc, thousands being shipped to Europe and 

 other countries every year, giving emjiloyment to numbers of the inhabitants of its 

 native land. It makes a round, cup-shaped nest, of some cottony materials, and dec- 

 orated with leaves and lieliens. It jierehcs occasionally on the flowering slirubs it 

 frequents, and sjireads its rounded, chestnut-colored tail to its fullest extent, and then 

 apjjears to the greatest advantage. 



Tlu-ee species of humming-birds, of rather large size and most graceful form, are 

 included in the genus Jleliothrij; distinguished by their slender, wedge-shaped liills, 

 plumage of green and white hues, and metallic-blue tufts on the sides of the neck. 

 There is not much difference in the coloring of the sexes, but when any does exist, it 

 consists in the absence of metallic coloring on the female's tliroat. The rectrices, 

 which are rounded, are quite long, always shortest, however, in the male. The 

 6])ecies dwell in Central and South America generally. Jleliothrix auriculatiis, from 

 southern Brazil, and a bird of a powerfid and rajiid flight, evinces a ])reference 

 for the flowers of the orange-trees, which doubtless furnish it with its insect food. 

 The nest, which is of an elongated shape, is built of fine vegetal>le fibres, and coated 

 externally with small j)ieces of various colored barks, and attached by one side to some 

 twig. Like in other species, the materials com]i(ising the nest arc not always of the 

 same kind, the bird ajijiarently taking that which is most convenient and adajjted for 

 the j)ur])ose. 



The gener.'i Schistcs, Phlor/ophilus, Aiiffastes, C/in/suroiiia, JfeUilliira, and Avocet- 

 titla contain about twenty-one sjiecies, resembling each otiier in the bright metallic 

 coloration of their rectrices, though differing in other important res])ects. Schistes 

 contains but two species, confined to Ecuador, one {S. persouatus) having been j)ro- 

 cured upon the sides of Mount Pichincha, six thousand feet above the sea. It has the 

 forehead, face, and throat metallic green, with lilac-blue tufts on cither side of the 

 breast. The mendiers of Aiir/astes arc more brilliant birds than are those of the last 

 genus, A. lumachdlus being i)articularly beautiful. It has the top of head, ear-coverts, 

 and a line outside of throat velvety black; forehead, face and throat luminous golden 



