GLAUCIS AFFINIS, Laivr.
Allied Hermit.
G la u c is affinis, Lawr. in Ann. L y c . N a t. H ist, o f N ew York, vo l. vi. p. 2 6 1 .
In my account o f Glaucis hirsuta I pointed out the differences which exist among specimens o f this form
from the Andes o f Bogota and those from Trinidad and Brazil, and remarked that the former, which has
the throat and abdomen suffused with green, and might therefore be regarded as distinct, had not yet
received a specific appellation. This has since been bestowed upon it by Mr. G. N. Lawrence, o f New
York, who says, “ This species is a near ally o f G. hirsuta, and it is with some hesitation I have
ventured to characterize it as distinct. Mr. Gould, in his ‘ Monograph o f the Trochilidae,’ under G.
hirsuta, speaks o f a bird from Bogota ‘ which has the throat and abdomen much suffused with green,’
which he thinks nearly allied to hirsuta, and possibly different; but he does not incline to give it a specific
appellation until further light is obtained. The example I have described may be the same as the Bogota
bird, but differs so much in the sombre colouring o f its under plumage from the more uniform rufous
which prevails in those parts in all the specimens I have seen from Cayenne, Trinidad, &c., and in the
much darker green o f its upper plumage, that I cannot but regard them as different species.” Specimens
from the banks o f the Napo, to which Mr. Lawrence’s remark applies, are somewhat darker-coloured
than those from Bogota; still I have no doubt o f their being referable to the same bird.
The following is Mr. Lawrence’s description o f this species :—
“ Top o f the head dark brown ; back and wing-coverts shining grass-green ; upper tail-coverts fringed
with g r ey ; chin dark brownish g r ey ; centre of the throat dull brownish rufous ; sides o f the neck and breast
dull dark green intermixed with rufous; abdomen and sides pale rufous; under tail-coverts white, with their
centres very pale fawn-colour, two centre tail-feathers dark green tipped with white, inside which is a narrow
black band; the outer tail-feathers are chestnut-red for two-thirds o f their length from the base, the
remainder purplish black with white tips ; wings purplish brown; upper mandible black; lower mandible
yellow with a black t ip ; irides black; feet pale yellow.”
The figures in the accompanying plate, which are o f the size o f life, were taken from Bogotan specimens.
The plant is the Lopimia malacophylla.