LAMPORNIS VERAGUENSI S , Gouid.
Veragrian Mango.
Lampornis Veraguensis, Gould, MSS.
Lampornis veraguensis, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250.
Sericotes veraguensis, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 11.
S e v e b a l years have now elapsed since I received both drawings and specimens of tliis new Humming-bird
from M. Warszewicz, the celebrated South American traveller and botanist. The specimens referred to
vvere collected near the volcano of Chiriqui in Veragua; subsequently I received examples from Costa Rica,
and more recently still from the vicinity of David, transmitted by Mr. Bridges: nothing can be more certain,
therefore, than that the countries immediately to the northward of the Isthmus of Panama are the native
habitat of this bird. As a species, the Lampornis Veraguensis is as well marked as any member of the genus ;
it possesses a combination of characters which ally it to the L. gramineus and L. Prevosti; it differs, how-
ever, from the former in its much smaller size, and in the brilliant green of the throat being continued over
the chest to the abdomen; and from the L. Prevosti, which it about equals in size, by the total absence of
black on the throat. I am so fortunate as *to possess males, females and young males of this fine species,
which may be thus described.
The male has all the upper surface, wing-coverts and flanks golden green ; throat glittering green, inclined
to blue in the centre, and becoming of a deeper blue on the chest and centre of the abdomen; wings purplish
brown; tail purple, each feather narrowly edged and tipped with darker purple, the two centre feathers
tinged with bronze; tuft on each flank white.
The young male is similar on the upper surface; has the throat-mark less brilliant and bordered with
white; the centre tail-feathers bronzy green; the lateral feathers purple at the base, crossed near the tip
with steel-blue and tipped with white.
The female is of a more golden hue above and on the flanks; has a mark of blackish green bordered with
white down the throat and the lateral tail-feathers as in the young male.
The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Pitcairnia macrocalyoc.