It will be seen on reference to the accompanying Plate that this little species has no metallic or fine colouring to recommend it to our notice; indeed it is one of the most plainly coloured birds of the whole family.
Among continental naturalists it is generally known as the ‘Sabine’ (Trochilus Sabinæ of Bourc. et Muls.); but it had been characterized in this country six years previously by Mr. Fraser, under the name of Trochilus melanogenys, which name having the priority is, as a matter of course, the one adopted. The dispersion of this bird over the great country of Columbia appears to be almost universal; its range also extends to Ecuador, and even to the confines of Peru. It is very frequently sent in collections from Bogota; I have received it also from the Caraccas, among other birds collected there by Mr. Dyson; from the Napo, through Don Villavicencio; Quindios, through M. Warszewicz; and Quito, through Professor Jameson. In all these countries it dwells in the temperate regions, rather than in the high mountainous districts or the hot plains below.
With respect to the outward appearance of the sexes, there is really so trifling a difference in the colouring of their plumage that it is impossible to distinguish the male from the female without having recourse to dissection.
The specific name of melanogenys is scarcely appropriate, since the dark colouring is almost entirely confined to the ear-coverts, and does not extend on to the cheeks as it would lead one to infer.
Head, upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts golden green; ear-coverts dull black; behind the eye a buffy white line; under surface ochreous white, washed with rufous on the flanks; feathers of the throat with a spot of dull black at the tip of each; wings purplish brown; two central tail-feathers bronzy brown; the lateral ones of the same hue at the base, passing into dull black, and with a large roundish spot of ochreous white at the tip of each; bill black, except at the base, where it is white or flesh-colour; feet apparently olive-brown.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Siphocampylus Orbignianus.
Featuring all 422 illustrated species from John Gould’s A Monograph of the Trochilidæ, or Family of Humming-Birds arranged by color.
Humming-Birds
