

CYANOTIS AZAR.E. 143 



Description. Above dark bronzy green ; head black; superciliaries yellow; 

 vertical spot crimson : wings black ; broad tips of the lesser wing-coverts and 

 broad edgings of some of the secondaries white, forming a large white bar on 

 the wing ; tail black, greater part of outer pair of rectrices and outer web and 

 broad tip of next pair and narrow tips of third pair white ; beneath bright 

 ochreous yellow ; chin whitish ; crissum crimson ; incomplete band across the 

 lower breast black ; under wing-coverts white ; bill black ; feet dark flesh- 

 colour: whole length 4'2 inches, wing 2*1, tail 1*7. Female similar. 



Hab. La Plata, Chili, and Western Peru. 



This charming little bird is variously called by the country people 

 All-coloured or Seven-coloured. Azara called it " The King " a name 

 which this species deserves, he says, not only on account of the crown 

 of loose feathers on its head, but because it is exceeded by few birds in 

 beauty. It is the most beautiful bird found in Chili, says Gay ; and 

 Darwin, who is seldom moved to express admiration, calls it "an 

 exquisitely beautiful little bird." There are many species possessing 

 a more brilliant plumage, none w^th so great a variety of distinct 

 colours ; for on its minute body, which is less than that of the House- 

 Wren, are seen black, white, green, blue, orange, yellow, and scarlet ; 

 and all these hues are disposed and contrasted in such a manner as to 

 produce a very pleasing effect the olive-green and delicate yellow 

 predominating, while the vivid scarlet is a mere spot, like the bright 

 gem or ornament which serves to set off and enhance the beauty of the 

 dress. The whole under plumage is pure lovely yellow, while a broad 

 mark of velvet-black extends belt-wise from the bend of each wing, 

 but without meeting in the centre of the bosom. The sides of the head 

 are deep blue ; over the blue runs a bright yellow stripe, surmounted 

 with the loose, slender, almost hair-like feathers of the crown, which 

 stand partially erect, and are blue mixed with black, with vivid scarlet 

 in the centre. Above, from the back of the head to the tail, the colour 

 is deep green. The wings are black, crossed with a white band ; tail 

 also black, the two outer quills pure white, and the succeeding two 

 partially white, the white colour appearing only when the bird flies. 

 Moreover, as though this diversity of colour were not enough, the soles 

 of the black feet are bright orange, the eye of the male delicate sky- 

 blue, while the female has white eyes. 



While on the subject of the colouring of this species, I will mention 

 a curious phenomenon which I have observed many times. When the 

 bird is flying away from the spectator in a strong sunlight, and is at a 

 distance of from twenty to thirty yards from him, the upper plumage, 

 which is dark green, sometimes appears bright blue. At first I thought 

 that a distinct species of Cyanotis y cerulean blue in colour, existed, but 



