Birds of

South America

A.Rutgers with 160 colour plates by John Gould 1804-1881

Left :- Sapphire-Spangled Emerald (amazillia l lactea)

mapThe three subspecies of this species are found in the east and south-east of Peru,the north of Bolivia and east Brazil.This bird was erroneously described by Lesson in his book Histoire naturelles des Oiseaux Mouches as the hen of the species Hylocharis sapphirina.He corrected the mistake in a later publication,but since this book is not well-known and is rarely used for reference his error has had a lasting effect.The birds in the plate,shown perching on a plant of Nymphea amazonum,are distinguished by the rather dark brownish-green upper parts and the brownish crown.The upper tail coverts are dark brown,the wings purple-brown.The tail is black with a bronze sheen and the outer tail feathers are tipped with grey.The throat and sides of the neck are a beautiful shining violet blue,the flanks are green and the middle of the belly,rump and under tail-coverts are white.The upper mandible is blackish-brown,the lower mandible pinkish-white and the legs reddish-brown.As the illustration shows the hummingbird dips its tongue in the water to drink then laps up the water quickly.They do not always perch on a leaf or stem but often hover in the air above...From Birds of South America

Hardback;321pp.160 colour plates by John Gould.Methuen 1972.Condition fine in D/W.Price £25.00

*See also 'The Birds of South America' Oxford University Press

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