250 THE EUBY AND TOPAZ HUMMIXG-BIRD. 



best adapted to afford it security : tlie part of the nest next tlie wall is much thielvcr, but of 

 a looser texture, than the similar portion of the true structure. The eggs are two in number, 

 oblong in form, of a fiui-e white, and about lialf an inch in length by about five-sixteenths 

 of an inch in breadth. 



The ditticulty of shooting these birds is inconceivably great, from tlie extraordinary 

 turns and evolutions tliey make when on the wing ; at one instant darting headlong into a 

 flower, at the next descriljing a circle in the air with such rapidity, that the eye, unable to 

 follow the movement, loses sight of it until it again returns to the flower which at first 

 attracted its attention." 



Magnificent as are these gorgeous birds when mounted as specimens, they lose much of 

 their beauty in the needful handling, and give but a faint image of their real effulgent 

 beauty. Many specimens are injured liy being left too long before the skins are removed 

 from the bodies, and in the lands where the Sappho lives, putrefaction takes place with 

 such rapidity, that a delay of a few hours is fatal to the perfection of the skin. It has been 

 found that these delicate creatures were much injured by the shot or other missiles 

 employed in their capture, so a very ingenious trap was made for their especial benefit. 

 It was noticed that the birds were accustomed to dash into the long pendent blossoms of 

 certain flowers, so the ingenious collector put a little birdlime into tlie bottom of every 

 blossom, and thus secured many an unwary Ilumming-liird as it came to feed. 



In the male bird the head, neck, the upper part of the back, the face, the sides of tlie 

 neck, and great part of the under surface, are light green, bronzed on the sides of the neck 

 and face. The lower part of the back is a deep crimson red. The wings are purple-brown, 

 and the throat metallic green. The tail is ruddy brown at its base, and the remainder of 

 its length is a fieiy red, tipped with a velvety black band. The female is smaller than the 

 male, but is not possessed of his length of tail nor brilliancy of hue, her throat being white 

 spotted with green, and the only piece of crimson being a patch on her back. 



Theke is another species belonging to the same genus, which has been called the 

 Phaon Comet {Cometes Fhaon) in allusion to the classical name of the preceding species. 

 This is equally magnificent with the former, and is altogether a larger bird. It may be 

 known from the Sappho by the colour of the tail, which is wholly of a crimson red. It 

 inhabits Peru and Bolivia. 



On the same engraving will be seen a much smaller bird, the Yaeeell's Woodstar. 



This pretty creature is very rare, and iiihal)its the eastern parts of Peru and Bolivia. 

 Mr. Gould thinks it is limited to the localities between the mountainous ranges and the 

 sea. In the male, tlie crown of the head, the whole upper surface of the body, and the 

 four central tail-feathers, are of a light yellow-green, and the chest, the middle of the 

 abdomen, and the under tail-coverts are greyish white. Upon the throat there is a 

 gorget of purple-blue, "shot" with lilac in some lights, and of a brighter blue in the 

 centre. The wings are greyish-brown, and the lateral feathers of the tail are dark 

 brown. The total length of the bird is about two and a half inches. 



Among other species belonging to the same genus may be mentioned the Short- 

 tailed Woodstar (Calothdrax mi'cri'irus). This odd little bird is remarkable for the 

 extreme shortness of its tail-feathers, which when closed are, with the exception of the 

 two central feathers, hidden under the upper taU-coverts. It is generally seen in the 

 mimosas, and hums very loudly when flying. 



The Ruby and Topaz Humming-bird derives its name from the colouring of its 

 head and throat, the former being of a deep ruby tint, and the latter of a resplendent 

 topaz. Sometimes it is called the Euby-headed Humming-bird, and it is also known 

 under the name of the Aurora. It is very common in Bahia, the Guianas, Trinidad and 

 the Caraccas, and as it is in great request for the dealers, is killed by thousands annually. 

 Tliere is no species so common in ornamental cases of Humming-birds as the Ruby and 

 Topaz. It makes a very beautiful nest, round, cup-like, and delicately woven of 

 cotton and various fibres, and covered externally with little leaves and bits of lichen. 



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