AUGASTES LUMACHELLUS 



Hooded Vizor-bearer. 



Ornismya lumachella, Less. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 315. 



Trochilus Liimachellus, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 313. 



Hylocharis Lumachettus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, Hylocharis, sp. 30. 



Of all the species of Humming-birds hitherto discovered in Brazil, there is perhaps no one more beautiful 

 in form and colour than the bird here represented ; neither is there any one among them of which so little 

 is known both respecting its habits and the localities it frequents. All the specimens in the collections of 

 this country have been obtained in the province of Bahia, and the bird is without doubt an inhabitant of the 

 mountainous parts of the interior to the northward and westward of Minas Geraes. In the disposition of 

 its colouring and markings it precisely resembles the Augastes scutatas, but is distinguishable from that 

 species by its larger size, by the pendant locket-like mark of crimson at the extremity of the beard, and by 

 the luminous metallic red colouring of the tail. 



As in A. scutatns, considerable difference exists in the plumage of the sexes, which may be thus 

 described : — 



The male has the face and throat rich lustrous golden green, bounded below by a narrow line of bluish 

 green, and terminating in a few pointed feathers of a rich shining iridescent crimson-red ; head deep velvety 

 black, which colouring extends over the sides of the neck, and is continued in a narrow line behind the 

 luminous colouring of the throat ; plumage of the body, both above and beneath, shining bronzy green ; 

 on either side of the chest a crescent-shaped mark of white ; wings purplish brown ; tail golden bronzy 

 red, except the apical three-fourths of the two central feathers which are pure bronze, and the outer 

 margins of the two next feathers on each side which are washed with green ; under surface of the tail rich 

 deep luminous bronzy crimson ; across the vent an irregular line of white ; bill black. 



Total length, 41 inches ; bill, £; wing, 2-f ; tail, \\\ tarsus, i-. 



The female has the upper and under surface of a more bronzy hue; the head green instead of velvety 

 black ; the ear-coverts dull blackish brown ; the green of the throat less lustrous, not extending to the 

 forehead ; the greenish blue feathers at its base more apparent, and the locket-like mark less conspicuous ; 

 the upper surface of the tail of a uniform bronzy copper hue, and the under surface similar to, but less 

 brilliant than, that of the male. 



Total length, 4| inches ; bill, f; wing, 2| ; tail, 1|-; tarsus, \. 



The young birds of the year have the upper surface bronzy green ; the throat white, each feather tipped 

 with shining green ; only a trace of the locket-like mark so conspicuous in the adult ; the under surface 

 brown, glossed with bronze ; the upper surface of the tail bronzy copper, except the two middle tail-feathers, 

 which assume a crimson hue, and are narrowly edged with purple ; and the under surface of the tail similar 

 in colour, but less brilliant than in the adult. 



The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. 



