Plate 23. Cassell's Book of Birds

TOPAZA PELLA ____ CRIMSON TOPAZ

(Life size) (Gould)

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According to Mr. Reeves, "the Amethyst inhabits the interior provinces of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Novo Fribourgo, and Minos Gerves, but is nowhere very common; it frequents gardens when the orange-trees are in flower, the valleys when the marrioneira is blooming, and the forests when the blossoms elsewhere are no longer inviting. It arrives in Rio in July, is most numerous in September and October, and departs again on the approach of the hot season. Its nest is invariably placed in the highest and driest trees."

THE AMETHYST HUMMING BIRD (Calliphlox amethystina).

The WOOD-STARS (Calothorax, or Lucifer) are principally distinguishable by the peculiar formation of the male bird's tail, which is much forked, and composed of short, stiff, narrow feathers; in some species the exterior tail-feathers are very short and almost without web. The tail of the female is straight, and her wings of moderate size; the beak is long, thin, and slightly curved.