Chrysomirus Angustipennis (Tecoma fulva.)

Title

Chrysomirus Angustipennis (Tecoma fulva.)

Description

Illustration shows a beautifully colored hummingbird (Chrysomirus angustipennis) on a Tecoma fulva plant. This lithograph is from Martial Etienne Mulsant's ‘Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux Mouche ou Colibris’. The work was published in parts between 1875 and 1879. The lithographs were executed by Antoine Germain Bevalet and E. Mesplis, this one was illustrated by Louis Victor Bevalet. The lithographs were made in the style of John Gould's outstanding works and are considered equally beautiful.

ca. 1876

Artist

Lemercier / Levasseur (1800-1870)

Cadastre of the War and Bridge Department by V. Levasseur, Geographer Engineer attached to the Cadastre and the City of Paris. Huge Parisian firm of lithographic printers founded by Joseph Rose Lemercier (1803-1887), who began as the foreman for Langlumé in 1825. Working on his own account from 1827, 1829-36 in partnership with Bénard association formed in 1837 according to IFF catalogue for Joseph Lemercier. The firm was still active in 1841.

Historical Description

Hummingbirds are a family of small, nectar-eating birds from South, Central and North America. Hummingbirds only live in South America, North America and the Caribbean. They can be found from southern Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. They live in semi-deserts, in the forest areas along the Amazon and in temperate zones in the deciduous forests of Chile. They can be found almost everywhere in southern North and South America, except in the subantarctic and boreal zones. Almost 130 species of the hummingbird family live near the equator. Most North American hummingbirds migrate south in the fall to spend the winter in Mexico, the Caribbean Islands or Central America. The hummingbirds feed mainly on flower nectar. This very energy-rich food makes their energy-sapping flying style possible. Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to striking red or orange-colored flowers. More than 7000 plant species are known to be pollinated by hummingbirds. Natural enemies of hummingbirds are snakes, birds of prey, cats and martens.