(GLITTERING HUMMING-BIRD.)
+Chlorostilbon splendidus+, _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877 p. 184 (Buenos
Ayres); _Salvin, Ibis_, 1880, p. 360 (Salta); _White, P. Z.
S._ 1882, p. 616 (Catamarca); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 22
(Entrerios); _Elliot, Ibis_, 1877, p. 136; _id. Syn. Troch._ p.
244. +Ornismya aureoventris+, _d'Orb. et Lafr. Syn. Av._ ii. p.
28 (Corrientes). +Chlorostilbon aureiventris+, _Scl. et Salv.
Nomencl._ p. 94. +Hylocharis bicolor+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_,
ii. p. 448 (Mendoza, Paraná, Tucuman). +Chlorostilbon phaethon+,
_Gould, Mon. Troch._ v. pl. 354.
_Description._--Head, all the upper surface, and wing-coverts rich
golden bronze, but inclining to green on the upper tail-coverts,
wings purplish brown; tail black, glossed with deep green; throat
and breast glittering emerald-green, merging into glittering coppery
bronze on the sides of the neck and abdomen; under tail-coverts
green; bill fleshy red at the base, with a darker tip; feet
blackish: whole length 3·5 inches, wing 2·2, tail 1·3. _Female_
bronzy green above and grey beneath, washed with bronze on the
flanks; wings purplish brown; tail bluish black, the two lateral
feathers tipped with greyish white.
_Hab._ South Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
The Glittering Humming-bird appears in the vicinity of Buenos Ayres in
September, and later in the spring is found everywhere on the pampas
where there are plantations, but it is never seen on the treeless
plains. Its sudden appearance in considerable numbers in plantations on
the pampas, where there are flowers to which it is partial, like those
of the acacia-tree, and its just as sudden departure when the flowers
have fallen, have led me to conclude that its migration extends much
further south, probably into mid-Patagonia. Like most Humming-birds it
is an exquisitely beautiful little creature, in its glittering green
mantle; and in its aerial life and swift motions a miracle of energy.
To those who have seen the Humming-bird in a state of nature all
descriptions of its appearance and movements must seem idle. In the
life-habits of the Trochilidæ there is a singular monotony; and the
Glittering Humming-bird differs little in its customs from other species
that have been described. It is extremely pugnacious; the males meet to
fight in the air, and rapidly ascend, revolving round each other, until
when at a considerable height they suddenly separate and dart off in
opposite directions. Occasionally two or three are seen flashing by,
pursuing each other, with such velocity that even the Swift's flight,
which is said to cover four hundred miles an hour, seems slow in
comparison. This species also possesses the habit of darting towards a
person and hovering bee-like for some time close to his face. It also
flies frequently into a house, at window or door, but does not, like
birds of other kinds, become confused on such occasions, and is much
too lively to allow its retreat to be cut off. It feeds a great deal on
minute spiders, and is fond of exploring the surfaces of mud and brick
walls, where it is seen deftly inserting its slender crimson bill into
the small spider-holes in search of prey. The nest, like that of most
humming-birds, is a small, beautifully-made structure, composed of a
variety of materials held closely together with spiders' webs, and
is placed on a branch, or in a fork, or else suspended from slender
dropping vines or twigs. Sometimes the nest is suspended to the thatch
overhanging the eaves of a cottage, for except where persecuted the bird
is quite fearless of man's presence. The eggs are two, and white.
Besides the little creaking chirp uttered at short intervals while
flying or hovering, this species has a set song, composed of five or six
monotonous squeaking notes, uttered in rapid succession when the bird is
perched.
Dr. Burmeister met with this Humming-bird at Mendoza, Paraná, and
Tucuman, and says it is the commonest species in La Plata, and easily
recognizable by its red bill.
Mr. Durnford also pronounces this species to be the commonest
Humming-bird in the province of Buenos Ayres, and "abundant in the
summer." It is not usual to meet with them in the winter; but Durnford
saw a single specimen in a sheltered garden in the beginning of June.
This Humming-bird feeds principally, he tells us, on the flowers of the
Ceiba-tree, but not exclusively on honey, for the stomach of a specimen
examined contained fragments of minute Coleoptera.
During his last journey Durnford obtained examples of this species near
Salta; and White found it very abundant and breeding near Catamarca in
the month of September.
According to Mr. Barrows the Glittering Humming-bird is also very common
in Entrerios; he writes as follows:--"Very abundant at Concepcion in
summer, arriving from the north early in September and departing again
in April. Though found everywhere among flowers, they are particularly
partial to open ground, flowery fields, gardens, &c., and in October it
was not uncommon to have six or eight in sight at once."
Fam. XXI. CYPSELIDÆ, or SWIFTS.
The cosmopolitan family of Swifts, as far as is yet known, represented
by one species only in the Argentine Republic. This is a fine large form
of wide distribution, which extends over most of Southern and Central
America.