Genus Eulampis Boié

• 92.

  Eulampis jugularis

  Habitat: The Islands of Nevis and Martinique

  Plate 82 Eulampis jugularis Purple-breasted Carib

  • Eulampis jugularis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 17.
• 93.

  Eulampis holosericeus

  Habitat: Islands of Nevis? and Martinique?

  Plate 83 Eulampis holosericeus Green-breasted Carib

  • Anthracothorax holosericeus, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 9, pl.793. fig. 4847.
  • Trochilus atrigaster, “Shaw,” Cabanis.
  • Eulampis holosericea, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 17.
• 94.

  Eulampis chlorolæmus (Gould)

  Habitat: The Islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix

  Plate 84 Eulampis chlorolæmus Grass-green-breasted Carib

  “This bird,” says Mr. Edward Newton, speaking of the Humming-Birds of St. Thomas and St. Croix, “breeds from the end of March to the end of June. It is an easy matter to find its nest; for on approaching within two or three yards of where it is, the bird, if it is on, is sure to fly at you, and then retreating, remains suspended a few seconds just above your head, when it darts off and perches on some dead twig, most likely on the very tree which holds its nest. It does not stay here long, but takes short flights into the air, returning to the same place and, when there, showing its impatience by a continual flirting, or rather twitching, of its wings. If you then retire, keeping your eye on the bird, it will presently dart straight on to its nest, leaving it, however, at the least movement on your part. This species is not particular as to the tree on which it builds, as I have found nests on the Silk-cotton, Mango, Manchioneel, and Avocado Pear (Laurus persea, Linn.). They are placed on a horizontal branch, from half an inch to two inches thick, and are composed of cotton or the down of a species of Cactus, studded on the outside with white Lichen or shreds of bark, the whole structure measuring nearly two inches across, and built at the height of from about five to fifteen feet from the ground, sometimes concealed by leaves, at others on an almost naked bough.’’—Ibis, vol. i. p. 140.

  Mr. Newton informs me that the yellow of the base of the bill and gape of this bird shows rather conspicuously.

  • Anthracothorax chlorolaimus, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 9.
  • Eulampis chlorolaema, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 17, note.
• 95.

  Eulampis longirostris (Gould)

  Habitat: Unknown

  No illustrations

  In its size, general plumage, and style of colouring, this bird is very similar to the E. chlorolæmus; but the much greater length and curvature of its bill will, I am sure, satisfy the most sceptical that it is quite distinct. I possess two examples of this, both of which are unfortunately in a very bad state of plumage. One of these was presented to me by my valued friend Sigismund Rucker, Esq., the other I obtained on the Continent; I could gain no information whatever as to its native locality. The average length of the bill in E. chlorolæmus is three-quarters of an inch, while that of E. longirostris is nearly an inch and a quarter.