HE L IANTHEA LUTETI/E.
Comte de Paris.
Trochilus Lutetice, D eL a tt. e t Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 307.
Mellisuga lutetice, Gray and Mitch. Gen. o f B irds, vol. i . p. 112, Mellimga, sp. 7.
Helianthea lutetiae, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 74, Heliantliea, sp .3 .— Reich. Aufz.der Col.,p. 9.
— lutetice, Bonap. Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.
T he Helianthea Lutetice may fairly rank among the finest species of its genus. In size it surpasses the
H typica and H. Eos, from which, and indeed from every other known species, it differs in the uniform deep
grass-green of the chest and abdomen, and, with the exception of H. Eos, in the bright buff colouring of
the secondaries, forming a conspicuous mark like an epaulet near the shoulders. The native habitat of this
fine species is Ecuador, in which country it takes the place of the H. Bonaparii, H typica, and H. Eos of
Columbia, and the H. violifera of Peru. I believe its discovery to be due to the researches of the late
M. DeLattre, who, in conjunction with M. Bourcier, named it Initetice in honour of the Comte de Paris as a
compliment to his illustrious father, the late Duke of Orleans, who by his patronage of the natural sciences
contributed so largely to their development.
As is usual in this genus, the sexes differ very considerably in their colouring. The females of all the
species, however, are very similar; but the female of H. Lutetice having the buffy epaulet-like mark on the
shoulder, it is impossible to mistake the species to which it pertains.
The Helianthea Lutetice appears to be very common in the neighbourhood of Quito, as is evidenced by the
numerous examples obtained by Professor Jameson, M. Bourcier, and every collector who'has visited those
regions. The specimens from which the original description was taken were procured by M. DeLattre on
the Volcano of Purace near Popayan.
I am indebted to M. Bourcier for. the loan of the drawing of the interesting plant figured on the
accompanying Plate.
The male has a spot of glittering metallic green on the forehead; the sides of the head, crown, and back
of the neck velvety-black; upper surface brownish-black glossed with green; wing-coverts dark green;
wings purplish-brown, with the exception of the secondaries, which are buff, forming a conspicuous mark
near the shoulder; tail dark bronzy-brown; under surface shining deep grass-green, with a spot of rich
metallic steel-blue in the centre of the throat; bill black; feet brown.
The female has the crown of the head and upper surface bronzy-green; wings and tail as in the male;
chin and centre of the throat deep sandy-buff; under surface bronzy-green.
The Plate represents the sexes of the natural size.