SjPATHTHRA B U ff'O C A L IG A TA .
SPATHURA RUFOCALIGATA, Gould.
Red-booted Racket-tail.
Trochilus (Ocreatus) riifocaligatus, Gould in Proc. o f Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 86.
-------------Addce, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 312.
Mellisuga nifocaligata, Gray and Mitch., Gen. o f Birds, Mellisuga, sp. 59*
T h is new Humming-bird was procured in Bolivia by Mr. Bridges, who informed me that he found the
species rather numerous at Sandillani in the Yungas of La Paz, but had no opportunity of making himself
acquainted with its habits, for a knowledge of which, therefore, we must await the researches of some
future traveller: there is little doubt, however, that they will prove to be very similar to those of its near
allies, the Spathura Underiooodi and S. Peruana.
The male has the throat and forepart of the neck luminous metallic green; the plumage of the body
bronzy green; wings brown; tarsi clothed with a thick ruff of rusty red feathers ; tail brown, the outer
feathers prolonged and narrow, and ending in a broad spatulate tip ; bill black.
Total length, 44- inches; bill, f ; wing, I f ; tail, 2f.
The female has the upper surface and two middle tail-feathers bronzy green, the bronzy hue predominating
on the head and the green on the tail-feathers; wings purplish brown; lateral tail-feathers dark
blackish brown, the outer one on each side tipped with white, the remainder with a wash of bronzy green at
their extremities; under surface white, spotted on the throat, the sides of the neck and flanks with light
bronzy green; feathers clothing the tarsi and the under tail-coverts deep buff.
Total length, 3 f inches ; bill, f ; wing, I f ; tail, If.
The figures represent two males and two females of the natural size.