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MICRASTUR, GouM:
HELIANGELUS MICRASTUR, Gould.
Ecuadorian Star-frontlet.
Heliangelus micrastur, Gould, Ann. & Mag. N a t. Hist. (4 ) ix. p. 195 (1 8 7 2 ). Scl. & Salv.
Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 8 9 (1 8 7 3 ).
Helymus micrastur, Mulsant, H ist. N a t. Oiseaux-Mouches, iii. p. 9 3 (1 8 7 6 ).
Heliotrypha micrastur, Elliot, Synopsis o f the Humming-Birds, p. 88 (1 8 7 8 ).— Taczanowski,
Proe. Zool. Soo. 1880, p. 205.
I AM inclined to agree with Mr. Elliot that it is better to place the present species in the genus Heliotrypha
than in Heliangelus, to which I have assigned it in the present work, its strongly forked tail, and the absence of
any white band on the breast, allying it more to the members of the former genus. It has also been made
the type of a distinct one, Helymus, by M. Mulsant; but, as Mr. Elliot well remarks, this was entirely
unnecessary I regret that my Plate was lettered before I could alter the generic name to Hehotrypha.
The genus Heliotrypha, therefore, as limited in Mr. Elliot's Synopsis, consists of four spec.es i -H . oioa,
from Ecuador, with the throat metallic purplish violet; H. exortis, from Ecuador and Colombia with the
throat metallic pinkish lilac; II. micrastur, from Ecuador, with the throat metallic flame-colour; and H. hurrah,
from Colombia, with a pale metallic olive-green throat.
The following is a copy of my original note on this species : - ' ' I have i my collechon two specimensg
this new bird, one of which is much brighter and finer than the other. They were collected ,n the locality
above mentioned, by one of M , Clarence Buckley's hunters. In size this species is much ¡ g f i j g g | |
other member of this genus, even than Heliangelus manors. My specimens differ ¡ ^ « 1 1
absence of a white or buff band across the chest, in which respect they assimilate to II. Parzudak, [ _ | g g g
but not 1 the forked tail and other respect, I think it probable they are somewhat immature, and that,
beautiful as they are, fully adult examples will be still finer.” IHW llS i the forehead a band of glittering green; crown of the head, aU the upper surface of
the body and the shoulders bronzy green ; chest and flanks of the same line, but rather brighter ; centre o
¡ ■ H mottled brown and green; on the throat an exceedingly
exceeding in brilliancy the colouring of the same part o f any other member of
discovered; wings purplish brown; four central tail-feathers bronzy green, j H g g b l a c k | thg
h r o l ; under t iL l e T t s white; fee. dark brown, nearly black. Total length 3 f inches, bill , wing 2 „
tail 24, tarsi i Buckley, it has been met with in the winter months by
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Salvin and Godrnan.