Viola Star-frontlet, John Gould by Hummingbirds

About "Viola Star-frontlet, John Gould"

by Hummingbirds

About the artwork

Viola Star-frontlet (Heliotrypha viola), John Gould A journey lately made by M. Warszewicz on the banks of the Maranon has been the means of making known to us the present beautiful new species of Humming Bird; and it may not be out of place to mention here, that both Trochilidists and Orchidists are very largely indebted to the exertions of this intrepid traveller, who hesitates not to risk his life whenever a chance of obtaining novelties in either of those departments presents itself; and his intrepidity has hitherto been most amply rewarded, since no one has had the good fortune to add so largely to our stores of these interesting and lovely objects as M. Warszewicz; his collections of the Trochilidæ, which have all been transmitted to myself, have afforded me many opportunities of mentioning his exertions in terms of commendation, and I feel confident that George Ure Skinner, Esq., to whom his Orchids have been consigned, can speak quite as highly of his acquisitions in that department. This illustration has been restored to its original vibrancy by enhancing colors and removing unwanted marks. A monograph of the Trochilidæ, or family of humming-birds was published between 1849 and 1887 by English ornithologist John Gould. This monumental work depicts and describes all the known species of hummingbirds at the time - comprising 418 lithographic plates and information on 537 species."