(ANGELA HUMMING-BIRD.)
+Calliperidia furcifera+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 90; _Durnford,
Ibis_, 1877, p. 184 (Buenos Ayres). +Heliomaster furcifer+,
_White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 616 (Catamarca); _Barrows, Auk_,
1884, p. 21 (Entrerios); _Elliot, Syn. Troch._ p. 86. +Ornismya
angelæ+, _d'Orb. et Lafr. Syn. Av._ ii. p. 28 (Corrientes).
+Calliperidia angelæ+, _Elliot, Ibis_, 1877, p. 137. +Heliomaster
angelæ+, _Gould, Mon. Troch._ iv. pl. 263; _Burm. La-Plata
Reise_, ii. p. 448; _id. P. Z. S._ 1865, p. 466; _id. Anales Mus.
B. A._ i. p. 70. +Campylopterus inornatus+, _Burm. La-Plata
Reise_, ii. p. 447. (jr.).
_Description._--Crown of head luminous metallic green, changing in
some lights to aquamarine, in others to bluish green, and in others
to golden green; all the upper surface and wing-coverts golden
green, the golden hue predominating on the lower part of the back;
wings purplish brown; tail purplish black, glossed with dark green;
behind the eye a spot of white, and on the cheeks a streak of grey;
centre of throat rich metallic purplish crimson, on each side of
which is a series of elongated feathers of a rich deep metallic
blue; under surface deep green, passing into rich blue on the middle
of the body; tuft on each side and vent white; under tail-coverts
green, fringed with white; bill black; feet blackish brown: whole
length 5·2 inches, wing 2·3, tail 1·7. _Female_: the whole of the
upper surface golden bronze, inclining to grey on the crown; tail
green, deepening into black towards the extremity, and a spot of
white at the tip of the three outer feathers of each side; wings
purplish brown; under surface grey, fading into white on the throat
and middle of belly.
_Hab._ S. Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
Of the three Humming-birds which visit the vicinity of Buenos Ayres in
the summer months, Mr. Durnford tells us this is the rarest. It
is occasionally seen in the riverain wood, and like the other two
(_Hylocharis sapphirina_ and _Chlorostilbon splendidus_) may generally
be found hovering over the flowers of the Ceiba-tree--a species of
_Erythrina_.
Further to the north this species would seem to be more abundant.
Dr. Burmeister met with it near Tucuman and Paraná, and at one time
described the young birds obtained in the latter locality as of a
distinct species (_Campylopterus inornatus_), an error which he
subsequently corrected (_cf._ P. Z. S. 1864, p. 466). White procured
it in the city of Catamarca in August 1880.
Mr. Barrows has published the following interesting account of his
observations on this species in Entrerios (Auk, 1882, p. 21):--
"Early in September, at Concepcion, when the orange-trees are just
whitening with blossoms, these magnificent Humming-birds arrive from
the north, and may occasionally be seen about the orange-trees in any
garden, as well as about blossoming trees elsewhere. The males seemed
for some reason to be much less abundant than the females, hardly more
than a dozen being seen in an entire season. They probably nest in
November and December, and leave for the north again in February or
March. A nearly finished nest, found November 17, was very similar to
that of our own Ruby-throat (_Trochilus colubris_) but larger, and was
built in the compound fork of a large limb at a height of over 25 feet
from the ground. It was deserted soon after, perhaps as a result of
my examination. Ten days later another nest was found saddled on the
topmost horizontal limb of a dead and moss-grown stub; only about seven
feet from the ground, and exposed to the full force of the sun.
This nest contained two eggs nearly ready to hatch. Both nests were
beautifully covered with lichens, and the last was lined with the finest
of vegetable down. The female made several angry rushes at me before
the nest was touched, but as soon as she saw that it was discovered
became so shy that it was difficult to secure her. The male was not seen
at all. I once saw a bird of this species attack and put to rout a wild
dove which passed near it while feeding, and though the dove made every
effort to escape, the Hummer not only kept up with it easily, but darted
above and below it as well, and finally both went out of sight in the
distance together."