ERIOCNEMIS VESTITUS. 



Glowing 1 Puff-leg. 



Ornismya vestita, Longuem. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 314. — De Latt. et Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1839, 



p. 18, and 1840, p. 8. 

 Trochilus uropygialis, Fras. in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part viii. p. 15. 

 Ornismya glomata, Less. Echo du Monde Savant. 



Hylocharis vestita, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 2. 

 Eriopus vestita, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 80, Eriopus, sp. 1. 

 Erlocnemis vestita, Reich. Auf. der Col., p. 9. 

 Eriocnemys vestitus, Bonap. Rev. Zool. 1854, p. 252. 



It is to be regretted that some more appropriate term than vestitus had not been selected as the specific 

 designation of this wonderful little bird— I say wonderful advisedly; for every one who, for the first time, 

 finds himself in front of the compartment in my collection in which this species is placed, gives utterance 

 to some exclamation expressive of the admiration excited by its striking beauty and the glow-worm like 

 splendour of its upper tail-coverts. This brilliancy is more apparent at certain hours of the day ; for 

 instance, it is more beautiful in the evening after sunset than at mid-day, the brilliancy being then more 

 strikingly contrasted and relieved by the dark hue of the tail-feathers. It is unquestionably one of the finest 

 species of its genus, and one of the most resplendent of the Trochilidce : would that it were possible for me 

 even faintly to depict it ! but no, the most finished drawing can be but a phantom of the original, and it is 

 only by an examination of specimens that my readers can form any adequate idea of the splendour and 

 beauty of this gem ; and how much more gorgeous must the bird appear in its native wilds ! But a short 

 period has elapsed since we first became aware of the existence of this lovely bird ; twenty-five years ago it 

 was totally unknown; during the quarter of a century ending with 1859 it has, however, become extremely 

 common, so much so, indeed, that no collection need be without the richest examples : its market value is 

 very small, and thousands upon thousands have already found their way to Europe. Its native country is 

 Columbia, and it is nowhere more abundant than in the neighbourhood of Santa Fe de Bogota : it is within 

 an area of 100 miles from this place that not only this, but' a host of other species of Humming-birds have 

 been procured. Its large snow-white boots must render the bird a very conspicuous object both when 

 flying and when at rest, for it surely cannot conceal these lengthened tufts of feathers even if so disposed. 

 The female is not so gorgeously attired as the male, neither are her leg-tufts so conspicuous; still she is far 

 from being destitute of beauty. 



The male has the head, throat, neck, upper part of the back, and wing-coverts deep bronzy green ; centre 

 of the back purer green ; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts yellowish green, of the most intense 

 metallic brilliancy ; wings purplish brown ; tail bluish black ; a circular spot on the chin and under tail-coverts 

 deep rich metallic blue ; abdomen and flanks glittering golden green ; thighs thickly clothed with white 

 downy feathers ; bill black ; feet brown. 



On looking at the bird in front, the head and neck appear to be of a deep black ; but on changing the 

 position, those parts are found to be of the colour described. 



The female has a similar distribution of colour, but the hues are altogether less brilliant ; the central 

 tail-feathers are green instead of bluish black ; the upper tail-coverts are not so much developed ; there is 

 only an indication of the blue spot on the throat ; the under surface assumes a rusty tint, and the feathers 

 are merely tipped, or spangled with the brilliant hue so conspicuous in the male; and the blue under tail- 

 feathers are less developed. 



The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. The plant is the Echinopm crktata. 



