The WHITE-FOOTED RACKET-TAIL (_Steganurus_, or _Spathura Underwoodii_) is
remarkable for the unusual prolongation of the exterior tail-feathers;
these are partially denuded of the web, and at the end of the shaft are
enlarged into a broad disc; the beak is short and almost straight, and the
small tarsus thickly covered with down. The entire mantle, belly, sides,
and lower tail-covers are copper-green, the breast and throat brilliant
green; the quills are purplish brown, the tail brown, and the disc at
the extremity of the exterior feathers black, with a green shade. The
length of the male is five inches and a half, the wing measures one inch
and three-quarters, and the tail one inch and three-eighths. The female
is copper-green on the back, and white, spotted with green, on the under
side; the lower tail-covers are brown, and the tail-feathers, which are of
almost equal length, are tipped with white.
"This species," says Gould, "enjoys a range of habitat over the Columbian
Andes from the 3rd to the 10th degree of north latitude, but appears to
be confined to the region ranging between 5,000 and 9,000 feet above
the level of the ocean; it is abundant in the neighbourhood of Santa Fé
de Bogota, and numerous in Galipan, between La Guayra and the Caraccas.
Mr. Dyson informs me that when hovering before a flower the action of
its wings is exceedingly rapid, that it produces a loud humming sound,
and the large spatules at the end of the outer tail-feathers show very
conspicuously, being kept in continual motion by the rapid movements
of the bird, and the repeated closing and expanding of its tail; its
white-booted legs are equally noticeable. It is strictly an inhabitant of
the hills, and loves to examine the flowers growing in the open passes
and glades of the forest for its insect food, which it procures from
the highest trees, as well as from branches near the ground. During its
flight, it passes through the air with arrow-like swiftness, the tail
being carried in a horizontal position."
Mr. Gosse gives the following interesting account of one of the many
attempts he made to rear two young males of this beautiful species. The
subjects of this experiment were not confined in a cage, but kept in a
room with doors and windows close shut. "They were lively, but not wild;
playful towards each other, and tame with respect to myself, sitting
unrestrained for several seconds at a time on my finger. I collected a
few flowers, and placed them in a vase on a high shelf, and to these they
resorted immediately; but I soon found that they paid attention to none
but _Asclepias corrassavica_. On this, I again went out and gathered a
large bunch of asclepias, and was pleased to observe that on the moment
of my entering the room one flew to the nosegay and sucked while I held
it in my hand. The other soon followed; and then both these lovely
creatures were buzzing together within an inch of my face, probing the
flowers so eagerly as to allow their bodies to be touched without alarm.
These flowers being placed in another glass, they visited each bouquet in
turn, now and then flying after each other playfully through the room,
or alighting on various objects. Although they occasionally flew against
the window, they did not flutter and beat themselves at it; but seemed
well content with their lot. As they flew I repeatedly heard them snap
their beaks, at which time they doubtless caught minute flies. After some
time, one of them suddenly sank down into one corner, and on being taken
up seemed dying; it lingered awhile and died. The other continued his
vivacity. Perceiving that he exhausted the flowers, I prepared a tube,
made of the barrel of a goose-quill, which I inserted into the cork of a
bottle, to secure its steadiness and upright position, and filled it with
juice of sugar-cane. I then took a large _Ipomea_, and having cut off the
bottom, slipped the flower over the tube so that the quill took the place
of the nectary of the flower. The bird flew to it in a moment, clung to
the bottle's rim, and bringing his beak perpendicular, thrust it into
the tube. It was at once evident that the repast was agreeable, for he
continued pumping for several moments; and on his flying off I found the
quill emptied. As he had torn off the flower in his eagerness for more,
and even followed the fragments as they lay on the table to search them, I
re-filled the quill, and put a blossom of the marvel of Peru into it, so
that the flower expanded over the top; the little toper found it again,
and after drinking freely, withdrew his beak, but the blossom was adhering
to it as a sheath. This incumbrance it got rid of, and then returned
immediately, and, inserting his beak into the bare quill, finished the
contents. It was amusing to see the odd position of his body as he clung
to the bottle, with his beak inserted perpendicularly into the cork.
Several times in the evening he had recourse to his new fountain, and at
length betook himself to a line stretched across the room for repose. He
slept, as they all do, with the head not behind the wing, but slightly
drawn back on the shoulders. In the morning I found him active before
sunrise, having already emptied his quill of syrup. After some hours, he
flew through a door I incautiously left open, and, to my great chagrin,
escaped.
"Another male that I kept became so familiar, even before I had had him
for a day, as to fly to my face, and, perching on my lip or chin, thrust
his beak into my mouth and suck up the moisture. He grew so bold and so
frequent in his visits as at length to become almost annoying, and so
pertinacious as to thrust his protruded tongue into all parts of my mouth,
searching between the gum and cheek or beneath the tongue. Occasionally I
gratified him by taking into my mouth a little of the syrup, and inviting
him by a slight sound which he had learnt to understand. This bird and
his companions in captivity early selected his own place for perching,
without invading his neighbours'. So strong was this predilection, that
on my driving one away from his spot he would flutter round the room,
but try to alight there again, and if still prevented would hover near
the place as if much distressed. The boldest of these birds was rather
pugnacious, occasionally attacking one of his gentler and more confiding
companions, who always yielded and fled. After a day or two, however,
the persecuted one plucked up courage, and actually played the tyrant in
his turn, interdicting his playfellow from sipping at the sweetened cup.
Twenty times in succession would the thirsty bird drop down upon the wing
to the glass, which stood at the edge of a table immediately beneath that
part of a line where both were wont to perch; but no sooner was he poised
in front, and about to insert his tongue, than the other would dart down
with inconceivable swiftness, and wheeling so as to come up beneath him,
would drive him from his repast. He might fly to any part of the room
unmolested, but an approach to the cup was the signal for an instant
assault. The ill-natured fellow himself took long and frequent draughts.
"When these birds were accustomed to the room, their vivacity was extreme;
as manifested in their upright position and quick turns and glances
when sitting, which caused their brilliant breasts to flash out from
the darkness into sudden lustrous light, like rich gems; and no less by
their startings hither and thither, and their most graceful wheelings and
evolutions in the air, so rapid that the eye was frequently baffled in
attempting to follow their motions."
* * * * *
The COMETS (_Sparganura_) possess a very remarkably graduated tail, the
outer feathers of which are five times as long as those in the centre.