CLYTOL.EMA RUBINEA. 



Brazilian Ruby. 



Mellisuga Brasiliensis gutture rubro, Briss. Orn., torn. iii. p. 720. pi. 37. fig. 4. 



Oiseau mouche a rouge, Buff. PL Enl. 276. fig. 4. 



Le Rubis Emeraude, Buff. Hist, des Ois. ? torn. vi. p. 31. — Vieill. Ois. dor., torn. i. p. 114. 



Le Grand Rubis, Vieill. Ois. dor., torn. i. p. 60. pi. 27. 



Trochilus rubineus, Lath. Ind. Orn., torn. i. p. 312. — Vieill. Ency. Meth. On., part ii. p. 563. 



Omismya rubinea, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 146. pis. 44,45, 46. — lb. Traite d'Orn., 



p. 278. 

 Mellisuga rubinea, Gray and Mitch. Gen, of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 22. 

 Heliomaster rubineus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 70, Heliomaster, sp. 4. 

 Ruby-throated Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., torn. ii. p. 768. — Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. 



pp. 340, 341.— Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 342. 

 Loiseau-mouche brun-gris, Vieill. Ois. dor., torn. i. p. 61. pi. 28? 



I do not recollect that I have ever received examples of this bird from any other country than Southern 

 Brazil, which I am therefore led to believe is its true habitat ; it is one of the species most abundantly sent 

 to Europe in all collections transmitted from Rio de Janeiro, and one of those most commonly called into 

 requisition for the fabrication of the beautiful artificial feather flowers made by the nuns in the convents of 

 that country. That it undergoes a partial migration is shown by the remarks respecting it communicated 

 to me by Mr. Reeves, in which he states that it arrives in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro in May, and 

 retires again to the virgin forests or other unexplored parts of the country about the end of September. 

 For some time after its arrival it frequents the flowers of the Yuga, "Tamarinda de Serra;" in July, 

 August and September, it resorts to the flowers of the Gua-chimba, and lastly, procures its food from those 

 of the Mariana, a plant which seldom remains in bloom for more than fourteen days. It breeds durino* the 

 months of June, July and August, the nest being placed among the branches of the loftiest trees of the 

 forest. Thousands are killed every year for the fabrication of artificial flowers. 



The circumstance of this species being so very abundant near Rio during the months above mentioned, 

 has enabled Mr. Reeves to ascertain with certainty that it is subject to very great variation in the colouring 

 of the plumage between youth and maturity, and moreover that the adult female is fully as brilliant as the 

 male. I consider this a very important piece of information, as we may reasonably suppose that some other 

 species undergo similar changes ; and it tends to confirm an opinion I have long entertained, that very old 

 females of other species are as brilliantly coloured as the males ; I do not, however, believe that this state 

 must be attained before the powers of reproduction are perfected, for I have no doubt that the brown 

 birds so constantly sent with the males have been capable of breeding. Mr. Reeves adds, that "in the 

 places much frequented by this species examples may be seen during the same month in every state of 

 plumage they assume while in existence ; and these changes are so numerous that I have in my Collection 

 upwards of thirty specimens, no two of which are precisely alike." 



To give figures or minute descriptions of all these changes would not add to the value or the interest of 

 the present work ; they will be sufficiently illustrated by the accompanying figures of the two extremes. 



Besides being one of the commonest birds in our collections, the Clytolcema rubinea is also one of the 

 most beautiful members of its lovely family, and is rendered eminently conspicuous in the group by its rich 

 ruby-coloured throat, surrounded with equally glittering green. 



Mr. Reeves informs me that its local name is "Papa de Fogo," and that the old bird utters a loud cry 

 resembling the syllables Tirr-tirr-tirr, the cry of the young bird being the same, but fainter and uttered 

 more slowly. 



The nest sent to me by this gentleman is of a round, cup-shaped, but shallow form, placed horizontally on 

 the tri-forked extremity of a small branch, composed of fine, dark brown, glossy, hair-like materials closely 



