Phaethornis intermedius (Long-tailed Hermit).

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 Long-tailed Hermit is an elegant species characterized by its elongated central tail feathers, strongly decurved bill, and soft brown and olive plumage accented by a pale central stripe along the throat. In Gould’s hand-colored lithograph, the bird is depicted feeding from tubular blossoms, its long tail streaming gracefully behind it. Metallic pigments enhance the subtle iridescence of its upper feathers, while the delicately drawn foliage and blossoms evoke the shaded understory of its tropical habitat. The plate captures the species’ quiet beauty and the natural rhythm of its movements.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae stands as one of the greatest achievements in nineteenth-century ornithological illustration. Created over nearly four decades, it brought together Gould’s exhaustive fieldwork with the exceptional skill of artists Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The Long-tailed Hermit plate exemplifies the harmony between scientific accuracy and artistic refinement that defines the series—an enduring tribute to the grace and diversity of the hummingbird family.