CYANOMYIA FRANCIS. 



Francia's Azure-Crown. 



Trochilm Franciat, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 316. — lb. Ann. Sci. Phys. &c. de Lyon, 1843, 

 p. 324. 



Uranomitra Francite, Reiclienb. Auf. der Col., p. 10. 



Cyanomyiafrancia, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 254. — Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 



part xxiii. p. 141. 

 Polytmas Francite, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i., p. 109, Polytmus, sp. 87. 



Of the five or six known species of the genus Cyanomyia the C. Francia may be regarded as the most 

 beautiful, inasmuch as it is characterized by a far greater amount of glittering colour than any of its con- 

 geners, and by these glittering hues predominating on the sides and nape of the neck — parts not generally 

 adorned with any fine colouring ; there are, however, exceptions to all rules in the colouring of Humming- 

 Birds, and this is a case in point. The glittering of the parts referred to is so resplendent, that it is out of 

 the power of any person, I believe, to portray them ; hence art and device are in this instance at a nonplus. 

 In the accompanying Plate a representation of these feathers is attempted with the ordinary media. If the 

 reader can imagine the neck-plumes to be lit up with the most brilliant and glittering light possible, he may 

 have some faint idea of their loveliness ; it is only, however, in certain lights that these splendid colours 

 appear; particular states of the atmosphere, or a certain condition of light, are requisite to see them in all 

 their brilliancy. Viewed from behind, an obscure tint is alone visible ; reverse the position, so that the 

 rays of light fall upon the bird at a certain angle, and you become at once astonished at the difference. 



I believe the female of this species has no brilliant colouring on the crown, — at least we have not yet 

 received any example thus adorned; if, then, this conjecture be correct, the upper figure in the opposite 

 Plate represents this sex. 



M. Bourcier tells us that he has named this species in honour of a Mademoiselle Francia Bourcier, who 

 is, I believe, his amiable daughter. 



Crown of the head shining metallic blue ; sides and nape of the neck glittering metallic light green ; 

 upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy green, changing into coppery red on the lower part of the back and 

 upper tail-coverts ; wings purplish brown ; tail bronze ; throat, centre of the abdomen, and under tail-coverts 

 snow-white ; flanks bronzy green ; upper mandible and tip of the lower one black ; remainder of the under 

 mandible fleshy ; feet dark brown. 



The female or young male has the crown green ; only a trace of the coppery hue on the upper tail-coverts, 

 and the lateral tail-feathers crossed by an obscure dark band. 



The Plate represents two males and the female, or young male, of the natural size. The plant is the 

 Cuphea cordata. 



