The CAYENNE HERMIT (_Phaëtornis superciliosus_) is about seven inches
long; the wing measures two inches and one-third, and the tail two inches
and two thirds. In this species the mantle is of a pure metallic green,
and the under side reddish grey; the feathers on the back have reddish
yellow borders; a pale reddish yellow line passes above and below the
eye; the quills are brown, shaded with violet; the centre tail-feathers,
which are twice the length of those at the sides, are of a dull metallic
green, shading into black towards the white tip, and edged with reddish
yellow; the upper mandible is black, and the lower half of the under one
pale yellow; the feet are flesh-pink. The female has quieter plumage and
a shorter tail; the latter is but slightly wedge-shaped, and fully two
inches less than that of her mate.
"The _Phaëtornis superciliosus_," says Gould, "is one of the commonest
species of the genus, examples having been sent to Europe for at least the
last hundred years. Its native countries are Guiana, Cayenne, and Surinam;
its range is known to extend towards Brazil, as far as the confluence of
the Amazon, but, as I believe, does not advance farther south than Bahia.
Open trails covered with shrub or brushwood are the localities it most
frequents."
Wallace gives the following graphic description of the movements of
the _Phaëtornis_ and some nearly-allied species:--"I have distinctly
observed them visit in rapid succession every leaf and flower on a branch,
balancing themselves vertically in the air, passing their beak closely
over the under surface of each leaf, and thus capturing any small insect
that might be upon them. While doing this the two long feathers of their
tail have a vibratory motion, serving apparently as a rudder to assist
them in performing the delicate operation. I have seen others searching
up and down stems and dead sticks in the same manner, every now and
then picking off an insect, exactly as a Bush Shrike or Tree Creeper
does"--with this exception, that the Humming Bird is constantly on the
wing. They also capture insects in the true Fissirostral manner, and may
often be seen perched on the dead twig of a lofty tree, the same station
that is chosen by the Tyrant Flycatchers and Jacamars, and from which,
like those birds, they dart off a short distance, and, after a few whirls
and balancings, return to the identical twig they had left. In the
evening, after sunset, when the Goatsuckers are beginning their search
over the rivers, I have seen Humming Birds come out of the forest and
remain a long time on the wing, now stationary, now darting about with the
greatest rapidity, imitating in a limited space the varied evolutions of
the Goatsuckers, and evidently for the same end and purpose.
[Illustration: THE SICKLE-BILLED HUMMING BIRD (_Eutoxeres aquila_).]
* * * * *
The MOUNTAIN NYMPHS (_Oreotrochilus_) are at once recognisable by the
very peculiar formation of the wings, in which the shafts of the exterior
quills are remarkably broad. The strong, high beak is of medium size, and
the short tail almost straight at its extremity, only the outer feathers
being slightly rounded. The magnificently-coloured and glossy plumage is
blue or green upon the mantle, and of a lighter shade on the under side;
the region of the throat is usually edged with the most glowing tints, and
the exterior tail-feathers are often white. The sexes vary considerably in
their coloration.