Heliactin cornuta

Every enthusiastic naturalist, when studying the productions of that vast portion of the globe which we comprehensively term the “Continent of America,” becomes amazed at the prodigality with which Nature has lavished her treasures throughout the temperate and more especially the intertropical regions of that enormous expanse of land.

It matters little whether he direct his attention to its flora or its fauna,—let him turn to whatever department of science he may, he becomes enchanted with the prospect around him,—everywhere the utmost variety is presented, and all is beautiful in the extreme;—the inexhaustible stores of minerals, the varied forms of the Orchidaceous and other curious plants, the splendour of the insects and the beauty of the birds which give life to the forests, call forth his admiration. In the physical geography of the country, too, an equal variety exists,—vast plains, great rivers bordered with interminable forests, and towering Cordilleras, each giving birth to a distinct flora and a distinct fauna; and not only so, but at different elevations, even in the same latitudes, to species and even genera which are not to be found elsewhere. These remarks might be extended to a much greater length; but as the subject will be found more fully treated of in another part of the work, it would be out of place to comment at large upon them here. It would be very gratifying to me to give some information respecting the habits and economy of this bird; but unfortunately all that is known respecting it is, that it is an inhabitant of the mountain-ranges of Brazil, particularly those of Minas Geraes; and well does this elegant little bird represent in the air the brilliants which lie hidden in the deep primitive rocks over which it flies: fairy-like in form and colour, we might easily imagine that one of the jewels had become vivified and had taken wing.

For the discovery of this remarkable species we are indebted to the researches of His Highness the Prince Maximilian of Wied, who first described it in his “Voyage to Brazil” under the name of Trochilus cornutus, and who states that it inhabits the exalted Campos Geraes of Brazil, near the sources of the river San Francisco. Mr. Reeves informs me that Minas Geraes is the only province from which he had received specimens.

M. Bourcier states, that “during the dry season it principally frequents the open country in the neighbourhood of marshes, and obtains its food from the small plants which there abound; and that it re-enters the woods during the rainy season, and then seeks its food among the flowers of the various Orchids. It is in the district of the river of St. Francisco du Nord, in the province of Minas Geraes, that it is found in abundance.”

The sexes differ very considerably both in colour and in size, the female being somewhat the largest, having a much longer tail, and being destitute of the beautiful tufts and black throat which form such conspicuous features in the male.

The male has the forehead and crown shining greenish blue; above and behind the eye a series of elongated feathers of the richest fiery crimson at the base, passing into greenish yellow at the tip; throat, sides of the face, and a narrow tuft depending from the base of the throat, deep velvety black; back and wing-coverts bronzy green; wings purplish brown; two centre tail-feathers pale olive-brown, the remainder white, edged externally with olive-brown; breast, sides of the neck, and upper part of the abdomen pure white; lower part of the abdomen and flanks bronzy green; bill black; feet brownish black.

In the female all the upper surface and flanks are dull bronzy green; throat and centre of the abdomen buffy white; two centre tail-feathers bronzy olive-green, the next on each side white, edged with green on the base of the inner web, beyond which both webs are crossed obliquely with black; the remaining feathers white, crossed about the centre by a broad oblique band of black; wings purplish brown; bill and feet as in the male.

The Plate represents two males and a female of the size of life. The plant is the Dipladenia crassinoda.

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