HELIOTHRIX. 251 
Heliothrix is a well-marked genus, having a peculiar bill, which is cuneate, being 
wide at the base and gradually compressed towards the tip. The tail is cuneate, the 
central rectrices being considerably longer than the lateral ones. The nasal covers are 
completely feathered, so that the nostrils are not at all exposed. The only genus that 
approaches Heliothrix is Schistes, which has a similar bill and similar glittering auri- 
cular patches; but the tail is rounded, and the nasal covers are partly exposed. 
Augastes, too, has some resemblance to these genera, but the relationship is more 
remote. 
Mr. Lawrence inserts Heliothrix auritus in his list of M‘Leannan’s Panama birds 
(Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 291), but the occurrence of this bird so far from its usual 
range requires confirmation. 
1. Heliothrix barroti. 
Trochilus barroti, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 72°. 
Ornismya barroti, Bourc. & Muls. Ann. Sc. Phys. et Nat. Lyon, vi. p. 48”. 
Heliothrix barroti, Gray, Gen. B.i. p. 115°; Gould, Mon. Troch. iv. t. 217 (Oct. 1853)*; Salv. 
Ibis, 1860, pp. 272°, 400°; 1872, p. 3207; P.Z.S. 1867, p. 155°; 1870, p. 209°; Cat. 
Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 32"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 291"; ix. p. 125"; Sel. & 
Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 365; Tacz. Orn. Pér. i. p. 258". 
Heliothriz purpureiceps, Gould, P. Z.8. 1855, p. 87%; Mon. Troch. iv. t. 216 (May 1859) *°. 
Helothriz violifrons, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 122”. 
Supra nitenti-aureo-viridis, gule lateribus a mandibule basi micantibus, loris et tectricibus auricularibus 
nigerrimis, pileo et plaga postauriculari micanti-purpureo-cyaneis: subtus albus, rectricibus tribus 
utrinque lateralibus quoque albis, quatuor mediis chalybeo-nigris: rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 
circa 4°5, alee 2°6, caude rectr. med. 1°6, rectr. lat. 1:2, rostri a rictu 1-0. 
? mari similis, colore purpureo-cyaneo, pilei et regionis postauricularis absente striam a mandibule basi 
micanti-viridem quoque caret; gutture medio indistincte fusco guttato, cauda multo longiore. Long. 
tota circa 5°3, alee 2°6, caudee rectr. med. 2°45, rectr. lat. 1:4, rostri a rictu 1:0. (Descr. maris et feminze 
ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. British Honduras, Belize, San Felipe, and Cayo in the Western District (F. Blan- 
caneaux 1°); GuaTemMaLa, Las Salinas®1!° and Choctum, track between Cahabon 
and San Luis °°, Polochic Valley between Teleman and Panzos® (0. S. & F. D. G.); 
Honpuras, Chamelicon (Wittkugel, in U. S. Nat. Mus.); Nicaragua, Chontales 
(Belt), La Libertad in Chontales (W. B. Richardson); Costa Rica, Tucurriqui 
(Arcé °, Zeledon), Angostura, Cervantes (Carmiol !?); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 9, 
Bugaba ®, Boquete de Chitra °, Castillo, Laguna del Castillo, Calovevora 1°, Santa 
Fé § (Arcé), Veraguas ( Warszewiez +), Line of Railway (Arcé), Lion Hill (1/*Lean- 
nan 1113), Obispo (O. S.).—NortHeRN Cotomsia }?; Western Ecuapor !° 14 16, 
This beautiful species has been rather unfortunate in its names, two wholly unneces- 
sary synonyms having been bestowed upon it by Gould. 
It received its first appellation from Bourcier, who named a specimen sent him by 
32* 
