METALLURA CHLOROPOGON.
White-vented Copper-tail.
Urolampra chloropogon, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. iii. p. 6 8 (1860).
Trochilus chloropogon, Gray, Hand-list o f B irds, i. p. 1 4 2 , no. 1 8 3 9 (1869).
Metallura chloropogon, Ellio t, Synopsis o f the Humming-Birds, p. 1 6 4 (1878).
T his species was described by Cabanis and Heine from two speeimeus in the Heine collection, but without
any indication of exact locality. These two specimens still remain the only ones known, so far as we are
aware, and Mr. Elliot has also not seen the species. The latter gentleman places it in the vicinity of
M. opaca and M. jelskii, from which it differs apparently in its tail being “ luminous purple,” and by its white
crissum.
The following is a translation of the original description :—
Adult male. Purplish dusky with a certain amount of greenish lustre, the crown, shoulders, and rump
more brilliant green, but especially a gular spot, which is o f a most beautiful green; wing purplish dusky;
the tail very broad and glossed with more beautiful purple; vent white; the under tail-coverts shining
green with a yellowish margin.
M u lt female (or young male). Underneath brownish ochre; the throat and sides of the body spotted
with small dusky and greenish markings; the tail-feathers brilliant purple, the three outer ones paler
nurnlish at the tip. Total length 3 inches 6 lines, wing 2 inches, tail 1 inch 6 lines,.culmen 5 lines.
1 1 ' [R. B. S.]
METALLURA EUPOGON.
Red-throated Copper-tail.
Urolampra eupogon, Cab. J oum . tiir Om. 1 8 7 4 , p. 97.
Meta llura hedvigte, Ta cz. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1 8 7 4 , p p. 1 3 9 , 5 4 4 , pi. xx i. fig. 2 . Mulsant,
Hist. N a t. Oiseaux-Mouches, iii. p. 1 0 7 (1877).
Metallura eupogon, E llio t, Synopsis o f th e Humming-Birds, p. 1 6 4 (1 8 7 8 ).— Tacz. Orn. du
Pérou, i. p. 3 5 2 (1883).
T his species of Copper-tail was discovered by Mr. Jelski, at Maraynioc, in Pern. It is a very di tmet
species, having the centre of the throat metallic red instead o f bluish or metallic green. Nothing has been
recorded ofits habits, nnd the female is at present unknown.
The following description is translated from Dr. Taczauowski’s work on the Birds of Peru :
Adult male. Head above bronzy green, slightly scaly in appearance, with a somewhat more dusky disk ;
upper surface of body with the upper tail-coverts bronzy green ; under surface o f body uniform with the upper
surface; an oblong patch on the throat, scaly in appearance and o f a brilliant fiery reddish copper-colour;
feathers o f the centre of the breast dusky grey at the base, the abdominal plumes marked with a pale hand
before the bronzy tip; vent white; under tail-coverts bronzy, broadly margined with rufons; tail slightly
truncated, the tail-feathers bronzy, with a brilliant blue lustre, the lower surface coppery bronze.