Glaucis fraseri
"Mr. FRASER collected at Bahahoyo, in Ecuador, specimens of a bird which both Dr. Selater and myself
considered to be identical with the Glaucis Ruckeri but which, on a more minute comparison with specimens
from Veragna, I find to be suficiently different to entitle it to be regarded as distinct; I have therefore
named it after its discoverer, as a just tribute to one who has played a good part in the furtherance of
science. The G. Fraseri differs frosts G. Ruckeri in being rather larger in size, in having a smaller amount
of rusty red on the chest, and in having a decidedly grey breast; in other respects the two birds are
similar."
The foregoing paragraph appears in the Introduction, and I really have nothing to add to it respecting
the history of this bird. In favour of its being distinct, I may remark that it is quite an exceptional case
for a species to range over so many degrees of latitude as those between the country frequented by the G.
Ruckeri and that of which the present bird is a native. Whether the G. Ruckeri and G. Fraseri will prove to
be local varieties of one and the same species, time and a more intimate knowledge of the Trochildae inhabiting
the western coast of America can alone determine; for the present they should, in my opinion, be regarded
as two different species. Whether any variation occurs in the outward appearance of the sexes is entirely
unknown; in all probability they will be precisely similar in the colouring of their plumage.
Mr. Fraser states that this species was found on the edge of the virgin forest; always solitary; generally
in dark and lonely places, and very restless.
All the upper surface and wing-coverts green, inclining to bronzy brown on the head; wings deep
purplish brown; two centre tail-feathers green, deepening into black and tipped with white; the remainder
white at the base and at the tip, the intermediate space being occupied by a broad zone of black; an obscure
line of huffy white descends from the base of the bill on each side behind the eye a greyish-white spot;
throat blackish brown, succeeded by a spot of dull rusty red; breast and flanks deep olive-green mingled
with grey; abdomen grey; under tail-coverts lustrous olive-green, some of them margined with buff;
upper mandible black; lower moandible yellow, with a dark tip ; legs and feet flesh-colour ; irides hazel.
The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Cattleya maxima.
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