CAMPYLOPTERUS ENSIPENNIS, Swains. 



Blue-throated Sabre-wins*. 



Trochilus ensipennis, Swains. Zool. 111., vol. ii. pi. 107. — Less. Les Troch., pp. 124, 127. 



pis. 46, 47. 

 Campylopterus ensipennis, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., pp. xliii, 124. pi. 35. — lb. Traite 



d'Orn., p. 287. — lb. Ind. Gen. et Syn. des Ois. du gen. Trochilus, p. vi. — Bonap. 



Consp. Gen. Av., p. 71, Campylopterus, sp. 3. — Reich. Aufz. der Col., p. 11. — 



Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250. — Jardine, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 



vol. XX. 1847, p. 372. 

 Polytmus ensipefmis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 107, Polytrntis, sp. 2. 



The Campylopterus ensipennis is one of the most powerful species of the genus. The bohlness of its 

 markings and the brightness of its colouring render it also one of the most beautiful. Although the female 

 is not so brightly coloured as her mate, she assimilates more closely to him in her dress than do the females 

 of the other brilliantly coloured species to theirs ; she is, however, somewhat smaller, and has the blue 

 of the throat less conspicuous, and separated from the sides of the face by a white stripe which passes from 

 the base of the bill to beneath the eye. 



The West Indian Islands appear to be the native habitat of this fine species : in all probability it also 

 visits some parts of the South American continent, but this has not yet been positively ascertained. 



The following extract from Mr. Kirk's notes on the birds of the island of Tobago, published by Sir 

 William Jardine, Bart., in the twentieth volume of the "Annals and Magazine of Natural History," above 

 referred to, comprises all that is at present known respecting this fine bird : — 



"Feeds on ants, small flies and sweets, and is particularly fond of the blossoms of the wild and common 

 plantain tree ; but whether from the circumstance that these blossoms are generally attended by numerous 

 herds of ants, which form the principal part of its food, or for the purpose of extracting sweets, or 

 perhaps both, I am unable to determine; but in all I have dissected, I have found the stomach to contain 

 ants and portions of small gnats. It is found principally in the woods, by rivulets and in low marshy 

 places." 



The male has the head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts, sides of the neck, under surface of the body 

 and under tail-coverts deep shining golden-green, passing into grass-green on the upper tail-coverts, and 

 particularly glittering on the nape and back of the neck ; wings purplish-brown ; chin and throat deep 

 lazuline-blue ; two centre tail-feathers greenish-bronze, the next on each side dark steel-blue; the three 

 outer on each side steel-blue at the base, the apical two-thirds being pure white ; bill black ; feet dark 

 brown. 



The female differs in having the blue on the throat less extensive, and separated from the green of the 

 sides of the face by a streak of greyish-white ; the centre of the abdomen is also grey. 



Like the males of other members of the genus, the very old male of this species has the shaft of the outer 

 primaries very much dilated, which we may suppose adds considerably to its wing-powers. 



The Plate represents the birds of the natural size. The plant is the Dipladenia Harrisii, 



