BOURCIERIA ASSIMILIS, Elliot.
Elliot’s Inca.
Lampropygia, sp., Elliot, Ibis, 1 8 7 6 , p. 58.
Bourciena assimilis, Elliot, Synopsis o f the Humming-Birds, p. 7 9 (1878).
I n his paper on the genus Lampropygia (Ibis, /. c .) Mr. Elliot alluded to a specimen in his collection,
allied to L . prunelli, but differing in certain particulars, and apparently previously unnoticed. Failing to
obtain further specimens, he described the species as new in 1878, under the name of Bourciena
assimilis. He states that it came into his possession as from Ecuador, and that it is distinguished
from B . prunelli by the colour of the throat, which is dark metallic purple.
The following is Mr. Elliot’s detailed description:—“ Top of head blackish brown; nape black
with a bluish gloss; back black, but viewed from behind iridescent, being metallic red, graduating into
golden on the rump; chin brownish black; throat metallic purple; on either side of the chest a large
patch of white ; upper tail-coverts dark purple; tail purplish black; bill black. Total length 4 f inches,
wing 2 i, tail 2, culmen liV.”
[R. B. S.]