Damophila amabilis

It was not until long after that great emporium of novelties, Bogota, had begun to unfold its treasures to the scientific world, that we became acquainted with this pretty species of Humming-bird.

Collection after collection had been received from thence for years; but it was not until 1851 that a single example of the Damophila amabils made its appearance. It was from this specimen I took my description, and to which I gave the name. Since that period it has annually become more and more common, numerous specimens having been sent from the same locality, so that this bird which was unique in 1851 is now (1859) precisely the reverse. It is a species which, in the opinion of Dr. Reichenbach and the late Prince Charles L. Bonaparte, differs sufficiently from the other forms of the family to constitute it the type of a new genus; and accordingly the generic title of Damophila was proposed for it by the former, and Juliamyia by the latter; fortunately it has not received a second specific appellation, and hence there is no difficulty with regard to its synonymy. ‘The only information known respecting it, is that it is found in the neighbourhood of Santa Fe de Bogota. It will be seen that the female differs somewhat from the male in colour, particularly in the absence of the bright green of the crown and sides of the head.

The male has the crown of the head shining metallic green; chin black; breast beautiful violet-blue, with a line of lustrous green, commencing at the angle of the bill, passing down the sides of the neck; upper surface bronzy green; tail-coverts and central tail-feathers greenish bronze; lateral tail-feathers brownish black; wings purplish brown; under surface like the upper, but less brilliant; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts grey; upper mandible and tip of the lower mandible black, the base of the latter fleshy white.

The female has all the upper surface bronzy green; wings purplish brown; two middle tail-feathers bronze, the lateral feathers bronze at the base, then black and slightly tipped with grey; under surface dull brownish green, fading into grey on the centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts.

The Plate represents both sexes of the natural size. The plant is the Espeletia argentea.

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