RHODOPIS VESPERA. 



Evening- Humming- Bird. 



Ornkmya vesper, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 85. pi. 19.-Ib. Hist. Nat. des Troch., 



p. 33. pi. vi.— lb. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 14.— lb. Traits d'Orn., p. 273. 

 TrocMlus vesper, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. i. p. 127. pi. 24. 

 Calothorax vesper. Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 110, Calotlorax, sp. 13. 

 Thaumastura vesper, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 85, Tliaumastura, sp. 2. 

 Lucifer vesper, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 257. 

 Rhodopis vespera, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 13. 

 Calliphlox vespera, Reichenb. Troch. enumer., p. 10. 



It will be seen, on reference to the synonyms given above, that this species has been honoured with no less 

 than seven generic names : happily, the specific appellation has been permitted to remain unchanged. 



The name of Evening Humming Bird was doubtless assigned to it by M. Lesson, from an impression that 

 it only flies at that period of the day, but I do not think that its habits differ at all from those of the other 

 members of the family, which generally avoid the mid-day sun, and seek their insect food in the morning and 

 evening ; still the name is pretty, and there is no great objection to it. As to the bird itself, it may rank 

 among the most beautiful and elegant members of its family, the lovely amethystine hues of its throat vieing 

 in delicacy with any of them. Lesson states that it is a native of Chili, but as I have never seen any speci- 

 mens from that country, or heard of its occurring there, I very much question if it ever goes so far south ; 

 if it does, it is only to its northern confines. That it inhabits Southern Peru is certain, numerous examples 

 having been forwarded to me direct from thence by M. Warszewicz and other collectors. I believe it is 

 found in the neighbourhood of the Arica, or that portion of the country lying between the sea and the 

 Cordilleras. It is possible that it is also to be met with in Bolivia, but of this I have no direct evidence. 

 The great length of its wings, the forked form of its tail, and the smallness of its feet, all indicate that it 

 possesses great powers of flight. 



The male has the centre of the throat fine amethystine red, changing on the margin to purplish blue, 

 producing an iridescence it is impossible accurately to describe ; all the upper surface bronzy greenish brown, 

 the brown hue prevailing on the crown ; wings purple-brown ; central tail-feathers olive-grey, outer tail- 

 feathers dark brown ; rump crossed by an indistinct band of rusty red ; under surface greyish white, washed 

 with dusky on the flanks ; bill and feet blackish brown. 



The female has the upper surface of a similar but paler hue than that of the male ; a wash of rufous on 

 the upper tail-coverts ; two centre tail-feathers and basal portion of the lateral ones bronzy green ; the feather 

 on each side the two central ones tipped with black, the remainder crossed obliquely with black, and largely 

 tipped with white ; under surface greyish white. 



The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life. The plant is the Zygopetalon Murrayanum. 



