56 Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trochilidje. 



species, from the fact that Lesson's bird seems to have been 

 overlooked by Trochilidists, and confounded with one sent in 

 great numbers to Europe from the neighbourhood of Bogota, 

 and to which Lesson's name, coelifjena, has been applied. But 

 the truth is that the Bogota bird belongs apparently to a dis- 

 tinct species, presenting many and constant characters whereby 

 it differs from its Venezuelan relative, and which at all times 

 render it easily to be distinguished. It may be considered 

 somewhat a matter of surprise that these birds should ever 

 have been confounded together ; for Lesson's figure is an un- 

 usually good one, representing his species coloured in a man- 

 ner not often surpassed for its fidelity. To enumerate some 

 of the difi'erences which distinguish L. cceligena from the Bo- 

 gota bird, which I have characterized in this paper as L. Colum- 

 biana, I may state that it is much larger, its total length 

 being six inches, Avhereas the other is not over five inches 

 and a half. L. caligena has the top of the head, back, and 

 shoulders of the wing dark coppery red, with a metallic lustre, 

 while these parts in L. columbiana are brown, inclining to 

 olive, being lightest on the head. The tails of the two also are 

 differently coloured, that of the Venezuelan bird being a red- 

 dish bronze, while the Bogota species has it of an olive hue. 

 Between the bronze feathers of the back and the metallic 

 ones of the rump, when viewed from behind, there is in L. 

 coeligena a well-marked (indeed, conspicuous) dividing line ; 

 but in L. columbiana the rump-feathers blend gradually with 

 those of the back, leaving no appreciable mark of division. 

 The two forms seem better qualified for a specific separation 

 than is usually the case in closely allied members of the Tro- 

 chilidse. For facility of comparison, I here give a descrip- 

 tion of Lesson's bird : — 



Upper part of head, back, and shoulders of wing dark 

 coppery red, metallic in certain lights. Rump, viewed from 

 behind, very brilliant metallic green, more extended than in 

 the same part of L. columbiana. Throat white, central por- 

 tion of feathers blackish brown. Breast dark grey. Abdo- 

 men smoke-colour ; flanks reddish bronze. Wings bright 

 piirple. Tail dark olive, with coppery reflections. Bill 



