RAMPHOMICRON MICRORHYNCHA. 



Thorn-bill. 



Ornismya microrhyncha, Boiss. in Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 354.— lb. Mag. de Zool. 1840, Ois., 

 pi. 16. 



Trochilus brachyrhyncJms, Fras. in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part viii. p. 16. 



Mellisuga microrhyncha, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 32. 



Ramphomicron microrhyncha, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 79, Ramphomicron, sp! 1. 



In the accompanying Plate, I have vainly attempted to illustrate this very lovely species, which (strange as 

 it may seem) always conjures up in my mind a remembrance of the glow-worm, whose evening torch so 

 charmingly illumines the dark lane-sides of our own country ; for indeed in its plumage, a gleam of intense 

 lustre is contrasted with the tone of the general plumage. The glow-worm shines in the dark, but this bird, 

 on the contrary, is most glorious in the glare of the sun ; when its throat, opposed to bright light, becomes 

 transcendently brilliant ; the surrounding dark colouring tending to render it more conspicuous : the beau- 

 tiful violet-coloured back, relieved by the dark hue of the wings, and the black tail, all combined Avith the 

 utmost harmony, and in the most elegant form, render this bird an object of no ordinary interest. As its 

 name implies, the bill is remarkably small, and in fact, there is no species yet discovered that has this organ 

 so diminutive : how minute then must be the insects upon which it feeds, how small must be the flowers 

 from which they are obtained, and how active must it be to procure a sufficient supply of these microscopic 

 creatures for the sustenance of life ! M. Bourcier informs me that it is a migratory species, and that in 

 Ecuador, where he had killed many specimens, he had seen it obtaining its insect food from the low composite 

 plants,' with open daisy-like tufts of yellow flowers, growing on the hill sides at an elevation of from eight to 

 twelve thousand feet, to which it seemed to be so partial, that wherever he found these plants, there he was quite 

 certain to find the bird also. M. Bourcier adds, that a great number may be killed before adult males in full 

 plumage are procured, and that the preparation of specimens for the cabinet is very difficult, from the readiness 

 with which the feathers are detached from the skin. It is usually met with in small companies ; flies very gently, 

 and never rises far from the ground. From Ecuador, which I believe to be its most southern limit, it is 

 found far to the southward of Santa Fe de Bogota, and doubtless inhabits all the districts between these 

 distant localities. It will be seen then, that, like its congeners, it is strictly an Andean species. Although 

 now very common in our collections, it is only within the last few years that the bird was discovered and 

 sent to Europe. 



The adult male has the head, all the upper surface and wing-coverts rich dark shining purple ; wings very 

 dark purplish brown ; tail velvety black ; on the throat a large gorget of the most luminous metallic 

 yellowish green ; under surface bronzy green ; across the vent an irregular band of buff; under tail-coverts 

 dull bronzy green, edged with buff"; bill black ; feet dark brown. 



The female has the whole of the upper surface bronzy green ; the throat white with a spot of bronzy 

 green at the tip of each feather ; the remainder of the under surface white, washed with bronzy green on 

 the flanks ; vent deep buff ; under tail-coverts similar to, but darker than those of the male ; tail purplish 

 bronzy black, the two lateral feathers on each side tipped with white ; a white mark in the centre of the 

 back in some instances. 



It is not yet, I believe, clearly ascertained if the adult female ever has the gorget; in all probability 

 she has not, or at all events not until after her capability for reproduction has ceased. 



In some specimens we find the purple of the upper surface mottled with shining green ; the throat-mark 

 only partially developed, the lower part of the abdomen, and the margins of the under tail-coverts white, 

 and the outer tail-feather only tipped with that colour : the birds in this state, I believe, are males of the 

 second year assuming the adult plumage. 



The Plate represents two adult males, a female, and a young bird of the year, on a species of Mimosa of 

 the country, a plant very generally resorted to by the Trochilidcs. 



