EUGENIA IMPERATRIX, Gould. 



Empress Humming* Bird. 



Eugenia Imperatrix, Gould in Proc. of ZooL Soc. 1855, partxxiii. p. 192. — Athenaeum, Nov. 17, 

 1855. 



On commencing the present Monograph of the Trochilidae, I felt assured that, much as had been done, 

 and splendid as were the collections in the possession of individuals and museums, more remained to 

 be accomplished for a complete history of this important group of birds, and that the trackless forests 

 and mountain districts of South America would, on exploration, be found to be tenanted by other novelties ; 

 and the acquisition of many new species, through the researches of the enterprising travellers who have of 

 late years visited that country, has proved that my conjectures were not illusory. For the present remarkable 

 species I am indebted to my friend Professor Jameson, of Quito, who discovered it in the temperate forests 

 of the Ecuadorian Andes, extracting its food from a flower resembling that of the Daturce. In reply to a letter 

 I addressed to Mr. Jameson, asking for any particulars he could send me respecting this species, that gentleman 

 says, " When your letter reached me, I was preparing to set out on an expedition to Cayambe, with the view 

 of adding a few novelties to my botanical collections ; but observing how pleased you were with the bird 

 I last sent you, I preferred visiting once more the locality it inhabits. Descending a mountain-ridge, elevated 

 about 11,000 feet above the sea-level, we enter a thick forest, extending to the shores of the Pacific. I have 

 frequently travelled over the same ground, and have always derived great pleasure from observing the gra- 

 dation of animal and vegetable life, so remarkable on the declivity of the Andes. At about 7000 feet there 

 is at this season in flower a plant of extreme beauty, an Alstrwmeria twining round the forest-trees, and 

 bearing at the extremity of the stem a dense umbel of bell-shaped blossoms of two distinct colours, the outer 

 petals being of a delicate rose colour, and the inner snow-white, spotted with dark purple ; here this fine 

 bird is sometimes to be found, attracted apparently by the Alstrwmeria, whose range appears to be confined 

 within very narrow limits. Upon the present occasion I was so fortunate as to procure another example, 

 which I send you herewith." 



The Eugenia Imperatriw is remarkable for its large size, deeply forked tail, and the harmonious hues of its 

 plumage, which, although less glittering and metallic than in many other species, is nevertheless strikingly 

 beautiful. The name of Victoria regia having been given to one of the finest flowers of South America, I have 

 dedicated this new Humming Bird to the Empress of the French, as a just tribute to one, whose many 

 virtues add lustre to the lofty position in which she is placed. 



Face and fore part of the neck brilliant grass-green ; crown of the head, back, neck, chest, and upper 

 part of the flanks very deep green ; on the centre of the throat a gorget of reddish violet ; abdomen and 

 under tail-coverts shining greenish yellow ; wings purplish brown ; tail deeply forked, the feathers black, 

 narrow, and rigid ; some tufts of white downy feathers across the lower part of the abdomen ; thighs brown 



in front, white behind. 



Female: upper surface green; throat, chest, and abdomen greyish white, spangled with green, the 

 spangles being very minute on the throat, and gradually increasing in size downward to the flanks ; tail 

 blackish brown ; tarsi white. 



The Plate represents two males and a female on a species of Datura, all of the natural size. 



