Since writing my account o f Lafresnaya Gayi I have received many additional examples, all o f which had white
tails tipped with purplish black; but I possess fully adult examples o f a white-tailed bird named Saute, by
M. Bourcier, in which the tippings are bronzy green. My specimens were brought by Delattre; but from what
locality, is unknown. The difference mentioned seems to warrant the belief that the bird is distin ct; and I therefore
give it a place in this synopsis, notwithstanding the opinion to the contrary expressed in my account o f L. Gayi.
Those who have not closely studied the Humming-Birds have but little idea how diversified are their forms;
the birds next to be considered are unlike all the other members o f the family. The species are short, thick-set
birds, w ith a very peculiar style o f plumage, have their crowns plated with metal-like feathers, and bills as straight
and sharp as needles; and woe to any bird, I should say, which gave offence to the members o f this genus.
I am exceedingly puzzled with respect to the species o f this form; that is, I am at a loss to determine whether
they are two, three, four, or five in number. First, with regard to D. Johanna, whose under-surface is black, and
frontal mark violet-blue; I have always regarded this colouring as indicative o f the adult, but I am in doubt
whether the «kins -which frequently accompany them from Bogota, and which assimilate in size and form, but differ
in having a green frontlet and a dull-green upper and under surface, are the females or young males o f this bird,
or i f they be distinct. Of the D. Ludovicia, which comes from Bogota, I have many examples, all o f which are
very uniform in size and style o f colouring. From Quito I have another bird assimilating to the D . Ludovicia most
closely in colouring, but which is about a fifth larger in all its admeasurements. Accompanying the specimens
from this latter locality is one without any frontal mark whatever; in other respects it is precisely like the rest,
and, I am sure, is a folly adult bird. Is this the female o f the Quitan birds, or a distinct species ? I have never
seen examples in this state o f plumage among the numerous specimens sent from Bogota. I think I shall be right
in regarding the Ecuadorian bird as distinct, and I therefore propose for it the name o f rectirostris.
Genus D o r y f e r a , Gould.
(Aópv, hasta, et <f>épa>, fe ro ; Lance-bill.)
Generic characters.
Ma le—BUI long, basal h alf straight, apical h alf inclined upwards and p oin ted ; wings o f moderate s i z e ; tail
rounded, the feathers broad and r ig id ; tarsi partly clothed ¡ hind toe and nail as long as the middle toe and nail ;
forehead luminous; plumage adpressed.
Female.— I believe the female is destitute o f the forehead-mark; but this is uncertain.
99. D o r y f e r a J o h a n n a s ................................................................................................ Vol. II. PI. 87.
Hemistephania Johatmae, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9.
Helianthea Johannae, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 731. figs. 4675-76.
Doryphora Johannae, Cab et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 78, note.
Habitat. New Granada.
100. D o r y f e r a L u d o v i c i j e ........................................... • - .................................................... P * 88-
Hemistephania Ludoviciae, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9.
Helianthea Ludoviciae, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 731. figs. 4673-74.
Doryphora Ludoviciae, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 77.
Habitat. New Granada.
101. D o r y f e r a r e c t ir o s t r i s , Gould.
Bill and feet b lack ; tarsi clothed with brown feathers; forehead brilliant glittering gre en ; crown and back of
the neck reddish bronze, passing into dull green on the b a ck ; upper tail-coverts washed with b lu e ; tail black,
tipped with greyish-brown, largely on the external feathers, slightly on the middle ones ; under-surface o liv e ; under
tail-coverts grey ; wings purplish brown.
Total length 5 inches; bill 1-j-r; wing 2 i ; tail l-£.
Habitat. Ecuador.
How remarkable it is that development and even beauty should be bestowed upon the under tail-coverts o f a
bird ! yet this is often found to be the c a s e : the Marabou Stork may be cited as an instance in point among the
larger birds, and the genera Eriocnemis, Erythronota, Sic. among the Trochilidae. In no group, however, is this
feature so conspicuously marked as in the members o f the succeeding genus Chalybura; there it is carried to its
maximum, and is rendered so much the more apparent from the striking contrast o f the snow-white-plumed under
tail-coverts with the dark or black colouring o f the tail-feathers. These birds form a very natural section o f the
Trochilidse. Venezuela, New Granada, and Panama may be regarded as their head quarters,—two of the species,
C. Buffoni and C. cceruleogaster, being frequently sent in collections from Bogota.
Although the sexes o f this genus o f birds are very differently coloured, the females have the plumed under tail-
coverts as well as the males.
Genus C h a l y b u r a , Reichenb.
102. C h a l y b u r a B u f f o n i .
Hypuroptila Buffoni .............................................................Vol. II. PI. 89.
Chalybura Buffoni, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 10; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 20.
Agyrtria Buffonii, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 7, pi. 766. figs. 4773-74.
Habitat. Venezuela and New Granada.
103. C h a l y b u r a u r o c h r y s ia , Gould.
Hypuroptila urochrysia, Gould Vol. II. PI. 90.
Habitat. Panama.
104. C h a l y b u r a C/ERULe o g a s t r a , Gould.
Hypuroptila caeruleogaster, G o u l d ........................................................................ Vol. II. PI. 91.
Cyanochloris coeruleiventris, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 10.
Agyrtria coeruleiventris, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 7, pi. 77. figs. 4775-76.
Chalybura coeruleiventris, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 20.
Habitat. New Granada.
105. C h a l y b u r a ? I s a u r z e , Gould.
Hypuroptila Jsauree, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part xxix. p. 198.
Habitat. The Bocca del Toro in Costa Rica.
Head, all the upper surface, wing-coverts, flanks, and abdomen coppery bronze, inclining to purple on the
lower part o f the back and upper tail-coverts; wings purplish-brown; tail very dark bronze, inclining to purple;
throat and breast grass-green; under tail-coverts white; upper mandible black; under mandible fleshy, with a
black tip ; tarsi yellow or flesh-colour.
Total length 4-jj- inches ; bill 1-jV; wing 2 f ; tail I f-; tarsi f-.
The specimen from which the above description was taken is somewhat immature; it is, however, sufficiently
advanced to show that it would have, when adult, a fine green breast; but whether the green colour would extend
over the abdomen, I am unable to say. It is nearly equal in size to the C. urochrysia, C. Buffoni, and C. ceeruleigastra;
but it has a shorter wing and a more rounded tail than either o f those species, and the under tail-coverts, though
white, are less plume-like in form. It is just possible that it may be necessary to separate this bird into a new
genus when we see it in its fully adult sta te; but it appears at present to be most nearly allied to the members of
the genus in which I have provisionally placed it. I received this bird from M. Edouard Verreaux, o f Paris, many
years ago, and I have never seen another.
The name o f Isaura was suggested to me by my late highly valued friend the Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte,
who wished thus to convey a compliment to Madame la Baronne de Lafresnaye, the niece o f Montbeillard, the able
coadjutor o f the celebrated Buffon.
Genus I o l /em a , Gould.
Clov,. viola, et Xai/ios, gula.)
Generic characters.
Male.— Bill considerably longer than the head and slightly arched; wings long and curved; primaries rigid, of
moderate length, and forked; tarsi clothed; fe et rather small; hind toe shorter than the middle to e ; nails short and
curved.
This genus was proposed for the Trochilus Schreibersii o f Loddiges ; and of this form Mr. G. N. Lawrence, of
Q