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PANOPLITES MATTHEWSI.
Matthews’ Panoplites.
Trochilus Matthewsii, Lodd. MSS. Bourc. in Proc. of Zool. Soc. P a rt XV. p. 43.
Mellisuga Matthewsii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 27-
Clytolcema matthewsi, Bonap. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 254.
T h e rich country of Peru is the native habitat of this very rare species ; I say very rare, because as yet few
examples have been sent to Europe; there is, however, a very fine one in the Collection of the Jardin des
Plantes at Paris, and I have been fortunate enough to procure three or four for ray own. One of these was
sent to me by Don Manuel Villaviceucio, from Quejos in the neighbourhood öf the Napo, the others were
killed on the banks of the Maranon by M. Warszewicz.
The name of Matthews, to whom this bird has been dedicated, will live as long as the study of
Ornithology holds a place among the natural Sciences, as the discoverer of the wonderful Humming Bird
called Loddigesia mirabilis, which is still unique, and forms the chief gem of the Loddigesian Collection ; I
regret to add that the life of its discoverer feil a victim to the pestiferous region in which it was found.
Of the habits and economy of the Panoplites Matthewsi, nothing is at present known; they are doubtless
very similar to those of its near allies the P. Jardini and P.Jlavescens, but of these, unfortunately, little has
been recorded. I believe the sexes to be similarly coloured, all the examples I have seen being precisely
alike.
Feathers of the head, neck and throat rich sliining green, the basal portion of the lower feathers of the
throat being chestnut-red; wing-coverts, back and upper tail-coverts bronzy green ; under surface of the
shoulders and under surface of the body rich chestnut-red ; wings purplish brown; two central tail-feathers
greenish bronze; the remainder cinnamon-red tipped with greenish bronze; bill black.
The figures are of the natural size.