ERIOCNEMIS LUGENS , Gould.
Hoary Puff-leg*.
Eriopus lugens, Gould in J a rd . Cont. to O rn . for 1851, p. 140.
Eriocnemys lugens, Bonap. Consp. Trooh. in Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
I r e c e iv e d my first specimen of this new bird through the kindness of Professor Jameson of Qmto, who
collected it at a considerable elevation on the western side of Pichmcha; a second and very simdar
example I procured of M. Pamidaki of Paris, and these are all that I have yet seen.
The Hoary Puff-le" is a trne Eriocnemis in every respect, and is somewhat allied to E. cupremntns and
E simples,. I am unable to say whether the specimens I possess are of opposite sexes or not, but, judging
from analogy, I suspect that no difference occurs in the outward appearance of the males and females.
From the sombre colouring, and the dense and lax plumage of this species, it would appear to be adapted
for cold and elevated regions.
Crown of the head, hack, shoulders and upper tail-coverts bronzy green, slightly tinged on the latter
with rufous; throat, abdomen and under tail-coverts hoary black, with a tinge of green on the flanks, and a
narrow fringe of white on eaeh of the feathers of the throat and chest, giving those parts a scaly appearance
wings purplish black; tail bluish black; feathers of the thighs white, and lengthened so as to form
a puff; front of the tarsi and toes purplish black, yellowish beneath ; bill black, with a yellowish tint on the
base of tbe lower mandible.
The figures are the size of life.