LESBIA CHLORURA, Gouia.
Green-tailed Train-bearer.
Lesb ia chlorura, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1 8 7 1 , p. 5 04.
L esbia gouldi (pt.), Ellio t, Synopsis o f the Trochilidee, p. 1 4 6 (1878).
Mr. E lliot does n o t co n sid e r th a t th e p re sen t b ird will prove really d is tin c t from L . gouldi; but I think th a t
th e ch a ra c te rs which I have given will ultima te ly be found to be co rre c t, though th ey may n o t be very strongly
p ro n o u n c ed .
The following is my original account of the species, published in 1871:— “ This species has all the
characteristics o f elegance; indeed a more graceful little creature can scarcely be conceived. It is very
nearly allied to L . gouldi and L . gracilis, but differs from both in having a more lengthened, straighter, and
greener tail, and is more especially distinguished by having a much longer and stouter bill than either o f them.
Its native country is supposed to be Peru. The specimen described has been in my possession for a length
of tim e; but I have delayed characterizing it in the hope that other examples might be received.”
“ Crown o f the head and all the upper surface golden green; gorget glittering green, round and well
defined as in L . gouldi; abdomen mottled green and buff, its lower portion and the under tail-coverts pure
buff; wings purplish brown; the eight central-feathers entirely light green, the external one on each side
olive, finely powdered and tipped with green, and having the outer web buff for more than half its length
from the base. Total length 6i inches, bill A, wing 2, tail 5 f.”