398 Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trocliilidse. 



with metallic throats, not particularly luminous. The two 

 species form but one group, distinguished as follows : — 



Tail long and deeply forked. 



Throat amethyst C. amefhjstma. 



Throat deep violet C.jmtchelU. 



Considerable confusion has arisen among the synonyms of 

 the first of these species, owing to a distinct form, described by 

 Lesson and belonging to a different genus, having been con- 

 founded with it ; and to rectify this error is the chief purpose 

 of this portion of my paper. 



The species of Calliphlox inhabit both sides of South 

 America — C. amethystina is found fi'om Trinidad to Brazil, 

 being most abundant, perhaps, in the last-named country ; 

 while C. mitchelli has, as yet, so far as I am aware, been only 

 met with in Ecuador. It is not improbable that it may extend 

 its range into Peru, as I have one specimen said to have 

 come from that country ; but I do not feel certain that the 

 locality is correctly given. 



Calliphlox amethystina. 



Trochilus amethystina, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 496 (1788). 



Ornismya amethystina, Lesson, Hist, des Ois.-Mouches, 

 p. 150, pi. 47; id. Suppl. des Ois.-Mouches, pis. 20, 21, 22. 



Calliphlox amethystina, Reich. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 12; 

 Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. iii. pi. 159 ; id. Intr. Troch. (8vo ed.) 

 p. 97. sp. 178. 



Ornismya amethystdides, Less. Hist. Nat. Troch. p. 79, 

 pis. 25, 26, 27. 



Calliphlox amethystdides, Gould, Intr. Troch. (8vo ed.) p. 98. 

 sp. 179. 



Trochilus brevicauda, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 79, t. 80. fig. 2 ? 



Hah. Brazil, Venezuela, Trinidad. 



This well-marked species was first described by Gmelin (/. c.) 

 from a specimen said to have come from Cayenne. Much 

 confusion has arisen in its nomenclature from the desire 

 among some writers to admit the examples from the province 

 of Minas Geraes as distinct from those found in other por- 

 tions of Brazil, and also to refuse specific rank to the Cayenne 



