JOeulZo.ntLHCTUchìtr. del el We
GOULDIA CONVERSI.
Convers’ Thorn-tail.
TrocJiilus Conversii, Bourc. et Muls. Rev. Zool., 1848, p. 314. pi. 8.— lb . Ann. Sci. Phys. &c.
de Lyon, tom. ix. p. 313.
Mellisitga Conversn, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 69-
Gouldia conversi, Bonap. Const. Gen. Av., p. 86, Gouldia, sp. 3.—lb . Consp. Troch. in Rev.
et Mag. de Zool., 1854, p. 257-
T h is species has many characters iu common with its Brazilian prototype Gmddia Langsdorfi, but may be
distinguished by the smaller size o f its body, by its longer wings, by the absence o f the scarlet band on the
breast, and by the tuft o f elongated greenish feathers which spring from the centre o f the chest and supply
its place as a decoration; the colours o f the crown and throat are less brilliant and glittering; and another
peculiarity is also observahle, namely, that when the tail is closed the lengthened lateral feathers cross
each other near the tip, assume an inward curvature, and nearly meet again at the point. I
The temperate regions of the Andes from Bogota to Popayau is the native .country of this rare species,
it is named, says M. Bourcier, who first described it, after its discoverer, M. Convers, a French naturalist
established at Bogota. Nothing has yet been recorded of its habits and economy.
The female has a larger tail than the female of its near ally, but in other respects is very similar.
The male has the head, face and throat shining grass-green; upper and under surface, wiug-coverts,
A Her tail coverts dark green ; across the rump a band of white spreading into a large patch on am m m m m w m I i H cestnu. H wi„gs n | n | m m
blotched with g r e y ish ; upper surface o f the tail-feathers steel-hluisl. black at the base, a stripe down the
and the apical portions brown ; under surface o f the tail steely greeu with white shafts. BfflHHHB ,h e upper and under surface dark green, deepening into bronze on the rump, across
The figures represent both sexes of the natural size.