COPPEPt-BELLIED PUFF-LEG HUMMING-BIRD. 



233 



exterior feathers are rusty red at their base, black for a considerable portion of their 

 length, and tipped with white. 



Another example of this genus is the well-known CORA'S SHEAR-TAIL, a remarkably 

 pretty bird, and specially notable for the peculiarity from which it derives its popular 

 name. It inhabits Peru, and is found very plentifully between Callao and Lima. The 

 valley of the Andes is also a 

 favourite residence of this bird. 



In the male, the head and 

 upper parts of the body are 

 golden-green, with the exception 

 of the wings, which are purple- 

 brown. The throat is violet, 

 changing into metallic crimson, 

 and the under parts are greyish- 

 white. The tail is rather curi- 

 ously shaped. The two central 

 feathers are double the length ot 

 the next pair, and the remaining 

 feathers are regularly gradated, 

 the exterior being the shortest. 

 This long tail is only found in the 

 male bird, the tail of the female 

 being of the ordinary length. 



SEVERAL of the Humming- 

 birds are remarkable for a tuft of 

 pure white downy feathers which 

 envelop each leg, and which has 

 obtained for them the popular title 

 of Puff-legs, because the white 

 tufts bear some resemblance to a 

 powder-puff. The generic name 

 Eriocnemis is given to the bird in 

 allusion to this peculiarity, and is 

 formed of two Greek words, the 

 former signifying wool or cotton t 

 and the other the thigh. Owing 

 to the very curious effect of these 

 tufts, the Puff-legs are in great 

 demand among the dealers, as 

 they look remarkably well in a 

 case of stuffed birds. 



The COPPER-BELLIED PUFF- 

 LEG is an inhabitant of Santa Fe 

 de Bogota, and is a very common 

 bird in that locality. It may 

 easily be found, as it is a re- 

 markably local bird, being con- 

 fined to a narrow strip or belt 

 of land, which possesses the requisite characteristics of temperature and vegetation. 



It must here be remarked that in the mountainous districts where this and many 

 other species of Humming-birds are found, every degree of temperature may be obtained 

 within the compass of a few miles by merely ascending or descending the lofty mountains 

 which form the greater part of the country. A few hours' journey will bring the 

 traveller through every shade of climate, from the perpetual snow and ice at the summit, 



SUN-GEM. Heliuctin cornuta. 

 CORA'S SHEAR-TAIL. Thaumastura Co, at. 



