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HELIODOXA XANTHOGONYS, Salvin # Godman.
Guiana Brilliant.
Heliodoxa xanthogonys, Salvin & Godman, Ibis, 1 8 8 2 , p. 8 0 . Salvin, Ibis, 1885, p. 4 33.
Xanthogenyx sah in i, D e Hamonville, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, vui. p. 7 7 (1 8 8 3 ).
T he present species was also one o f Mr. Whitely’s discoveries in British Guiana. He met with it hoth on
the Merume Mountains and near Roraima at a height of 3500 feet. Messrs. Salvin and Godman state that
it is “ allied to H. jamesoni from Ecuador, but is smaller, with a less forked tail, and is also distinguished by
its orange-coloured mandible." They observe Q .c .j, “ Mr. Whitely sends us a male and several females
of this species, which is obviously allied to the Ecuadorian H. jamesoni, hut at the same time quite
specifically distinct. This is the first evidence we have received of the fact of a member of this Andean
genus being found in Guiana.” s.
Mr. Whitely has sent us the following account of his capture of the species on the Merume Mount ains -
“ This beautiful bird was obtained in the same locality as Lophornis paconinus, hut, unlike that species, it
is of more retiring habits, frequenting the gloomy recesses of the forest, where it suddenly startles one by its
rapid flights, and then comiug to a stop, throwing the body up vertically within a few yards of one’s face,
making a very loud humming with its wings. It then darts off out of sight like a flash, rendering it a most
difficult bird to shoot. Only one male was obtained here, and several females ; but I was fortunate enough
to get two males on my second expedition to Roraima, at an elevation of 5000 feet. Stomach contained
remains of insects.”
The Plate represents two males and a female, the 6gures being drawn from specimens lent to us by
Messrs. Salvin and Godman.
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