( 533 ) 



It. Heliangelus speciosus (Sal v.). 



The throat is of a glittering golden greeu, which is not so sharply separated 

 from the greeu of the breast as in //. hnrrali, and there is not such a distinct dark 

 area round the throat. The length of the bill of this bird, however, is not greater 

 than in the //. harmli, while in the tyjie and in the specimen in the Boucard 

 collection it is slightly longer. Boucard has further described a skin as //. .simoni 

 which has the bill like our //. speciosus, i.e. equalling that of //. barrali, while the 

 colour of the throat differs very slightly from that of //. spKiosus Salv. Boucard 

 says that his //. simoni must be considered a species if //. speciosxs is kept 

 separate from //. barrali, and there is some sense in that remark; on the otlier 

 hand, if the length of the bill is dismissed as being not decisive in our case, Boncard's 

 as well as our skin can, taking into consideration the variation of the throat-colour 

 in //. barrali, without difficulty be united with //. speciosus, as Simon did with 

 Boncard's //. simoni (Cat. Trochil. p. 31, n. 33i)). Nevertheless we have much 

 to learn concerning all these forms, and I cannot help being somewhat sceptical 

 with regard to //. speciosus, but shall not of course disregard it as a species until 

 further researches are made. 



To recognise the genus Heliotri/pha as distinct from lleliaitgelas seems un- 

 necessary, if not inconsequent. If the form of the tail is the distinguishing 

 character, then H. stropkianus would rather have to be classed with Heliotri/pha ; 

 if the want of the white collar is taken as decisive, then certain specimens of 

 //. clarissae, in which it is almost if not quite wanting, are inconvenient, besides 

 that mere colour-markings are in my opinion not good generic characters. 



