opinion I cannot assent, as no material difference occurs in the colouring o f the birds o f this g enus; the
females, however, are a trifle smaller in size. It is true that in some individuals a more pointed form o f tail-
feather is observable, and that these pointed feathers are generally most strongly tipped with white; but
this difference I consider to be solely attributable to age, as the younger the bird the greater the extent of
the white on the tips o f the tail, and although this character is never wholly wanting, in some instances it is
quite obscure. I trust it will be understood that the above remarks have no reference whatever to the
Glaucis D o lrn i, which is a very distinct species. Mr. Reeves o f Rio de Janeiro informs me that the Glaucis
hirsutus is common both in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia.
M. Bourcier states, that the G. hirsutus inhabits Brazil as far south as St. Catharine; that it is different
from the G. Maxeppa, which is a native o f Cayenne; and that both these birds live in gloomy and humid
woods, and obtain their food from the flowers o f orchidaceous plants.
All the upper surface, sides o f the neck, wing- and upper tail-coverts green, suffused with brown on the
head; tail-coverts fringed with grey; wings purplish-brown; two central tail-feathers green, merging
into blackish-brown near the extremity, and tipped with wh ite; lateral tail-feathers dark chestnut-red,
margined on their apical half with brown, and with a crescentic mark o f the same colour at the extremity;
those nearest the middle feathers are also slightly tipped with white ; throat, all the under surface, and the
under tail-coverts dark chestnut-red ; upper mandible and point o f the under mandible black, basal three-
fourths of the under mandible yellow ; feet yellowish.
The Plate represents a male o f the natural size. The plant is the B ifrenaria Hadwenii.