Campylopterus cuvieri (White-tailed Sabrewing).

From A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds, 6 vols., large folio. Published in London, 1849–1887. Printed by Hullmandel and Walter from drawings by J. Gould, H. C. Richter, and William Hart, lithographed by the artists.

The White-tailed Sabrewing is a striking hummingbird native to the forests of Trinidad and Venezuela, notable for its gleaming emerald plumage, contrasting white tail feathers, and broad, sabre-shaped primary quills. In Gould’s hand-colored lithograph, the bird is shown perched amid tropical foliage, its plumage finished with delicate layers of metallic pigment that capture the vibrant interplay of green and violet light. The composition conveys a sense of quiet majesty, emphasizing both the bird’s size and its graceful bearing within its natural habitat.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae remains a landmark in the history of ornithological illustration. Produced over nearly forty years, it united Gould’s meticulous scientific observation with the artistic mastery of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The White-tailed Sabrewing plate exemplifies the harmony of precision and beauty that defines the work—transforming the study of hummingbirds into a lasting testament to Victorian artistry and natural history.