2 7 7 . B o u r c ie r ia f u l g id ig u l a , Gould . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 2 5 2 .
Homophania fulgidigula, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 79, note.
Habitat. Ecuador.
2 7 8 . B o u r c ie r ia in s e c t ív o r a .
Trochilus (.Lampornis) insectívoras, Tschudi, Consp. p. 38, No. 211; Id. Faun. Per. p. 248, t. 28. f. 1.
Habitat. Peru.
I observe that M. Cabanis has placed the T. insectívoras o f Tschudi among the synonyms o f B. torquata; but,
having had Tschudi’s type specimen sent to me from Neuchatel, I am not satisfied as to its identity with that
species. The specimen referred to seems to me to be the young o f some bird o f which we have not yet seen the
adult. I therefore retain the name in my l i s t ; but o f course do not figure it. I t appears to me to offer an alliance
to the B. Conradi.
279. B o u r c ie r ia C o n r a d i Vol. IV. PI. 253.
Helianthea Conradi, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 80, note.
Habitat. Pamplona in New Granada.
280. B o u r c i e r ia I n c a , G o u l d ................................................................................................ . Vol. IV. PI. 254.
Homophania Inca, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 79.
Habitat. Province o f Coroico in Bolivia; 6000 or 8000 feet (Warszewicz').
Genus L a m p r o p y g ia , Reichenb.
The members o f this genus (all figured in the work under the generic appellation o f Cceligena) bear a general
resemblance to the last as regards their size and the lengthened and straight form o f their b ills ; but their style o f
colouring is very different, and, however much some naturalists may dissent from the idea o f colour being regarded
as a generic character, I do think that it is o f no little importance in this group o f b irds; for I find that every
distinct section or genus is distinguished by some peculiar style o f plumage and colouring common to all the species
o f which it is composed, and not found in the others. Thus the members o f the present genus all bear a plumage of
a rather dull or sombre character with the exception o f the lower part o f the back, where it is luminous; but, as is
the case with the Aglceactines, this luminous colouring is only to be seen when viewed from behind. All the known
species are found among the Andes, both on the northern and southern sides o f the equator.
281. L am p r o p y 'Gia c c e l i g e n a .
Cceligena t y p i c a ......................................................................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. 255.
Lampornis cceligena, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 156.
Coeligena typica, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 3 , pi. 686. fig. 4515.
Lampropygia caeligena, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 78.
Habitat. New Granada.
In my account o f this species, which is common in the neighbourhood o f Bogota, I stated that the Bolivian
birds which appeared to be identical with it are much larger in size and darker in colour, and that I thought it
probable that they would prove to be distinct and undescribed; I still entertain the same opinion. I therefore take
this opportunity o f assigning to this southern representative a specific appellation, but do not consider it necessary
to give a figure o f it.
282. L a m p r o p y g ia B o l iv ia n a , Gould.
Habitat. Bolivia.
This bird bears a general resemblance to the L. cceligena, but differs in being o f a much darker colour on the
head and neck, and in having the tail dark olive-brown washed with bronze in lieu o f light bronzy-brown ; the
lower part o f the back also is more richly coloured, the crescentic markings o f green showing still greater lustre
when viewed from behind.
Total length 5£ inches; bill 1-J-; wing 3 £ ; tail 2-i-; tarsi -J-.
2 8 3 . L a m p r o p y g ia p u r p u r e a .
Coeligena purpurea, G o u l d ...............................................................................................................................Vol. j y pj_ 2 5 g
Cceligena , Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 73, Cceligena, sp. 2.
Coeligena purpurea, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 3, pi. 753. figs 4727-28.
Lampropygia purpurea, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 71, note.
Habitat. Popayan.
284. L a m p r o p y g ia P r u n e l l e i .
Coeligena Prunelli . . . Vol. j y pj 257
Bourcieria Prunelli, Reichenb. Troch Enum. p. 7, pi. 750. figs. 4721-22.
Homophania Prunelli, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 79.
Habitat. Andes o f N ew Granada. Common in collections from Bogota.
285. L a m p r o p y g ia W i l s o n i .
Coeligena W i l s o n i ........................................................................................................................................ Vol. IV. PI. 258.
Habitat. Ecuador.
A group rather than a genus next claims our attention; for two or three very well-marked divisions occur
among the birds I have figured under the generic name o f Heliomaster. Unlike the last, which are confined within
certain limits, these birds are widely spread, some o f them over Mexico and Central America, and others over
Venezuela, and even further south than the latitude o f Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The members o f this section o f the Trochilidse are o f rather large size, have long straight bills, lengthened
wings, and a structure admirably adapted for aerial progression. The males are mostly clothed with fine colours
on the crown and throat.
The species o f the
Genus H e l io m a s t e r , Bonap.,
as now restricted, are at least five or six in number, and four o f them are inhabitants o f Central America or
countries north o f the Isthmus o f Panama. Their short, nearly square tails, the outer feathers o f which, together
with their under tail-coverts, are spotted with white, render them very conspicuous.
286. H e l io m a s t e r l o n g ir o s t r i s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 259.
Selasphorus longirostris, Reichenb., Troch. Enum. p. 11.
Habitat. Trinidad.
287. H e l i o m a s t e r S t u a r t e e , L am .
Heliomaster longirostris, Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part xxv. p. 16.
------------ Stuartee, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist, in New York, April 9 ,1860.
Habitat. New Granada; the neighbourhood o f Bogota.
Mr. G. N. Lawrence, o f New York, considers the bird from Bogota to be distinct from the Heliomaster
longirostris o f Trinidad, and has assigned to it the distinctive appellation o f Stuartee, in honour o f a most estimable
lady, the wife o f R. L. Stuart, Esq., o f N ew York.
For my own part, I have always regarded the Bogota and Trinidad birds as one and the same; but Mr.
Lawrence has ever maintained that they are d istin c t; and on the day when these remarks were written I received
from him a copy o f the first part o f his paper entitled “ Catalogue o f a Collection o f Birds made in New Granada,
by James McLennan, Esq., o f New York,” in which, referring to his Heliomaster Stuartee, he says:—“ Since
describing this species, I have had an opportunity o f examining seven other specimens from Bogota. I find the
bills o f these to be quite as long as those o f H. longirostris; but they are much stouter, and the base o f the bill is
very broad and bare o f feathers, whereas in longirostris the bill is comparatively narrow at the base, and the
feathers extend quite forward on the bill. These differences were constant in an equal number o f each species.”
Whether the birds are really distinct or mere local varieties, time and the acquisition o f a larger number o f
specimens must determine. I have in my own collection two specimens o f another bird o f this form, which bear a
very general resemblance both in size and markings; but the crown, instead o f being bluish green, is positive blue.
So decided is this colour, that I have no hesitation in saying that, if so slight a difference is allowed to separate the
Bogotan and Trinidadian birds, these also must be regarded as belonging to a distinct species, and the term
Sclateri, which has been proposed by Dr. Cabanis, be used for them. I have two very fine males o f this bird in
fully adult plumage, killed by M. Warszewicz in Costa R ica ; but in what particular locality, is unknown to me.
Besides the Costa-Rican bird, I have another, still more different, from Southern Mexico, a most charming