Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trocliilidaj. 313 



254; Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. v. p. 284; et Intr. Mon. Troch. 

 p. 147, sp. 313. 



Hah. Mexico (northern districts) . 



This species, a native of Mexico, was first described by 

 Vieillot (/. c.) . It bears a close resemblance to C violiceps, 

 but may be distinguished from that species by the colouring 

 of the tail, which is a pale olive-green, without any of the 

 bronze-red hue observable on the rectrices of its relative. 

 The top of the head is a blue green, sometimes with purple 

 reflection. In all other respects the two species are very 

 similar. The present bird is rather rare in collections, al- 

 though it is reasonable to suppose it is common in the dis- 

 tricts it inhabits, as are the other species of the genus in the 

 localities they frequent. I have remarked that sometimes 

 the top of the head has purple reflections like that of C, vio- 

 liceps. My knowledge of this fact is obtained from a spe- 

 cimen in my collection which has the colouring of the head 

 like that of typical C. violiceps, and, were it deprived of the 

 tail, would undoubtedly be ranked with that species ; but the 

 rectrices unmistakably belong to C quadricolor. The colour- 

 ing of these last, then, appear to be the only character by 

 which the two forms may be distinguished. 



Cyanomyia violiceps. 



Cyanomyia violiceps, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3rd 

 ser. vol. iv. p. 97 ; Id. Mon. Troch. vol. v. pi. 285 ; et Intr. 

 Troch. p. 147, sp. 314. 



Hab. Mexico, vicinity of Oaxaca [Salle). 



This bird, described by Gould (/. c), was procured by M. 

 Salle near Oaxaca, in Western Mexico, where it appears to 

 be very abundant. Mr. Gould regarded it as distinct from C. 

 quadricolor in its "larger and somewhat forked tail, in the violet 

 colouring of the crown, and in having a longer and darker 

 bill, which, moreover, is not so broad at the base.^^ With a 

 tolerably large series of specimens before me, I find that none 

 of these characters are trustworthy, or sufficient to establish 

 the species. The colouring of the head, as I have ali'eady 

 stated, when speaking of C. quadricolor, varies greatly ; the 



SER. III. VOL. VI. V 



