SPATHURA UNDERWOOD!. 



White-booted Racket-tail. 



Ornismya U^iderwoodii ., Less. Troch., p. 105. pi. 37. 



Trochihis Underwoodii, Jard, Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. ii. p. 110. pi. 22. 



Fa7i-tailed Humming Bird^ Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 339. 



Trochihis ventilahrum^ Lath. MSS. 



Mellisuga Underwoodii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, Mellisiiga, sp. 5Q. 



This species enjoys a range of habitat over the Columbian Andes extending from the third to the tenth 

 degree of north latitude, but appears to be confined to the regions ranging between five and nine thousand 

 feet above the level of the ocean ; it is abundant in the neighbourhood of Santa Fe de Bogota, and is nume- 

 rous in Galipan between La Guayra and the Caraccas, Mr. Dyson informs me that when hovering before 

 a flower the actions of its wings are exceedingly rapid, that it produces a loud humming sound, and that 

 the large spatules at the end of the outer tail-feathers show very conspicuously, being kept in continual 

 motion by the rapid movements of the bird, and the repeated closing and expanding of the tail ; its white- 

 booted legs also are equally noticeable : it is strictly an inhabitant of the hills, and loves to examine the 

 flowers growing in the open passes and glades of the forest for its insect food, which it procures from the 

 highest trees as well as those near the ground. During flight it passes through the air with arrow-like 

 swiftness, the tail being carried in a horizontal position. 



The plumage of the two sexes is widely different ; the female being entirely devoid of the rich lustrous 

 green on the throat, and having only a rudiment of the white boots so conspicuous in the male : the 

 structure of the tail of the two birds is also A^ery dissimilar, as will be seen on reference to the accom- 

 panying Plate. 



The male has the whole of the upper surface, the abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts bronzy green, 

 becoming richer and of a coppery hue on the upper taiUcoverts ; throat and chest rich lustrous green ; 

 wings purplish brown; tail brown, with the exception of the spatulate tips of the lateral tail-feathers, which 

 are black with greenish reflexions ; tarsi thickly clothed with white downy feathers ; bill black ; feet 

 yellow. 



Total length, 5^ inches; bill, i; wing. If; tail, 3f. 



The female has the upper surface and two middle tail-feathers bronzy green, the bronzy hue predomina- 

 ting on the head and the green on the tail-feathers; wings purplish brown; lateral tail-feathers brown, the 

 outer one on each side largely tipped with white, the remainder with a wash of bronzy green at their extre- 

 mities ; under surface white, spotted on the sides of the breast and flanks with bronzy green ; under tail- 

 coverts buflf; tarsi clothed with white feathers; feet yellow. 



Total length, 3i inches ; bill, 4^; wing, H ; tail, 1|. 



The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size, on a branch of the Passijlora ligukris. 



