70 cassell's book of birds. 



The RACKET-TAILED SYLPHS {SUganurus) have the outer tail-feathers much prolonged, 

 and almost naked except at their extremities, where the barbs are broadly dilated. 



THE WHITE-FOOTED RACKET-TAIL. 



The White-footed Racket-tail {SUgantmis, or Spatlmra Underwoodii) is remarkable for 

 the unusual prolongation of the exterior tail-feathers ; these are partially denuded of the web, and 

 at the end of the shaft are enlarged into a broad disc; the beak is short and almost straight, and 

 the small tarsus thickly covered with down. The entire mantle, belly, sides, and lower tail-covers 

 are copper-green, the breast and throat brilliant green ; the quills are purplish brown, the tail brown, 

 and the disc at the extremity of the exterior feathers black, with a green shade. The length of the 

 male is five inches and a half, the wing measures one inch and three-quarters, and the tail one 

 inch and three-eighths. The female is copper-green on the back, and white, spotted with green, 

 on the under side ; the lower tail-covers are brown, and the tail-feathers, which are of almost equal 

 length, are tipped with white. 



" This species," says Gould, " enjoys a range of habitat over the Columbian Andes from the 

 3rd to the loth degree of north latitude, but appears to be confined to the region ranging between 

 5,000 and 9,000 feet above the level of the ocean; it is abundant in the neighbourhood of Santa Fe 

 de Bogota, and numerous in Galipan, between La Guayra and the Caraccas. Mr. Dyson informs 

 me that when hovering before a flower the action of its wings is exceedingly rapid, that it produces 

 a loud humming sound, and the large spatules at the end of the outer tail-feathers show very 

 conspicuously, being kept in continual motion by the rapid movements of the bird, and the repeated 

 closing and expanding of its tail ; its white-booted legs are equally noticeable. It is strictly an 

 inhabitant of the hills, and loves to examine the flowers growing in the open passes and glades of 

 the forest for its insect food, which it procures from the highest trees, as well as from branches near 

 the ground. During its flight, it passes through the air with arrow-like swiftness, the tail being carried 

 in a horizontal position." 



Mr. Gosse gives the following interesting account of one of the many attempts he made to rear 

 two young males of this beautiful species. The subjects of this experiment were not confined in a cage, 

 but kept in a room with doors and windows close shut. " They were lively, but not wild ; playful 

 towards each other, and tame ^^'ith respect to myself, sitting unrestrained for several seconds at a time 

 on my finger. I collected a few flowers, and placed them in a vase on a high shelf, and to these they 

 resorted immediately ; but I soon found that they paid attention to none but Asdepias corrassavica. 

 On this, I again went out and gathered a large bunch of asclepias, and was pleased to observe that on 

 the moment of my entering the room one flew to the nosegay and sucked while I held it in my hand. 

 l"he other soon followed ; and then both these lovely creatures were buzzing together within an inch 

 of my face, probing the flowers so eagerly as to allow their bodies to be touched without alarm. 

 These flowers being placed in another glass, they visited each bouquet in turn, now and then flying 

 after each other playfully through the room, or alighting on various objects. Although they 

 occasionally flew against the window, they did not flutter and beat themselves at it ; but seemed well 

 content -with their lot. As they flew I repeatedly heard them snap their beaks, at which time they 

 doubtless caught minute flies. After some time, one of them suddenly sank down into one corner, 

 and on being taken up seemed dying ; it lingered awhile and died. The other continued his vivacity. 

 Perceiving that he exhausted the flowers, I prepared a tube, made of the barrel of a goose-quill, which 

 I inserted into the cork of a bottle, to secure its steadiness and upright position, and filled it with 

 juice of sugar-cane. I then took a large Ipomea, and having cut off the bottom, slipped the flower 

 over the tube so that the quill took the place of the nectary of the flower. The bird flew to it in 



