DE LATTREI'S SABRE-WING (_Campylopterus hemileucurus_ or _Campylopterus De
Lattrei_) is of a deep blueish black on the head; the wing-covers, back,
and rump are green; the quills dark purplish brown; the tail-feathers
blueish black, shaded with green; a small white spot is placed above the
dark eye; the beak is black, the foot dark brown. The head of the female
is bronze-colour, the rest of the mantle glossy green, with a golden
shade; the region of the throat and sides of the breast are greenish blue,
and the under side grey, with a greenish gloss. This gaily-tinted bird
inhabits Mexico and Central America.
"Of all the members of the genus," says Gould, "this species is by far the
largest and the most beautifully coloured. It is said to be the boldest
of its race, and to be so extremely pugnacious that every bird venturing
into the neighbourhood of its territory is furiously attacked and driven
away. This peculiar feature in the habits of the race explains the use of
the broad and powerful shafts of the primaries, which form so conspicuous
a character in the males of the _Campylopterus_. This bird is strictly
a Mexican or Central American species. M. de Lattrei, to whom we are
indebted for its discovery, states that it is found in the forests of
Jalapa during two months of the year only, that it is known by the name of
the 'Luce-fleur-royal,' and that it feeds during the entire day, instead
of during any particular hours. He adds that it selects a flowering shrub,
which it never quits, and from which it chases with anger all the species
of the family that may seem desirous of approaching it. On taking flight
it utters a cry."
"The large showy tail of this Humming Bird," says Mr. Salvin, "makes it
one of the most conspicuous when on the wing. The females are especially
abundant, their ratio to the males being as five to two."
"This beautiful bird," says M. Montes de Oca, "which is generally known
in Mexico by the name of the Royal Blue Myrtle-sucker, arrives in the
vicinity of Jalapa, Coantepec, and Orizaba in considerable numbers during
the months of October and November, and is mostly found feeding from a
plant called marapan between the hours of seven and one o'clock. During
this time it is seldom seen to alight, and then only for a very short
time, but is constantly on the wing, flitting from flower to flower,
describing segments of a circle in its flight, and sometimes almost
touching the ground. For the remainder of the day very few are to be seen,
and I think it probable that they visit the woods for certain kinds of
mosquitoes, with which I have often found their stomachs well filled. The
pugnacity of this species is very remarkable; it is very seldom that two
males meet without an aërial battle. The contest commences with a sharp,
choleric shriek, after which, with dilated throats, the feathers of the
whole of their bodies erected on end, and their tails outspread, they
begin to fight with their bills and wings; the least powerful soon falls
to the ground or flies away. I have never known one of these battles last
longer than about ten seconds, and in the specimens I have under my notice
in cages, their fighting has mostly ended in the splitting of the tongue
of one of the two, which then surely dies, from being unable to feed."
* * * * *
The TRUE SABRE-WINGS (_Platystylopterus_) are recognisable by their
comparatively great size and strength, and the unusual development of the
shafts of the exterior quills; the tail is straight at its extremity; the
beak short and powerful, and almost straight.