On some Typical Specimens of the Trochilidse. 261 



determination. Since that date a zealous investigation of tlie 

 avifauna by observers in New Zealand has resulted in the ac- 

 quisition of fui'ther specimens of this very handsome bird. 



XXIX. — Remarks on some Typical Specimens of the Trochi- 

 lidsBj loith a Description of one new Genus. By D. G. 

 Elliot, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



Having lately received from the A^ieima Museum, through 

 the kindness of Herr von Pelzelu, several of his types of 

 various species of the Trochilidse for examination, I thought 

 it would interest those ornithologists who pay especial atten- 

 tion to those beautiful birds, if I should place on record the 

 results of my investigation, both as regards the specific value 

 of these specimens, and their proper place in the family. 



The first I shall refer to has been described by Herr von 

 Pelzeln in his ' Ornith. Brasil.^ p. 57, as Thalurania iolaema. 

 In our article on this genus, published in ' The Ibis ' for 1873, 

 p. 361, Mr. Salvin and I placed this bird among those species 

 which we had not seen, and of whose specific value we could 

 therefore give no opinion. Having now received the tyj)e, 

 I find it has nothing whatever to do with Thalurania, but 

 more properly should be placed in a new genus, having its 

 nearest ally in Smaragdochrysis. I therefore propose for this 

 bird the generic term of 



Ptochoptera. 



BiU moderately long, straight, sharply pointed. Wings 

 extremely short, a little over one third the entire length of 

 the bird. Tail long, deeply forked, feathers narrow, outer 

 ones curving slightly inwards. 



The extremely short and feeble wing, in comparison with 

 the size of the bird, is remarkable. The species may be briefly 

 described as follows : — 



Ptochoptera iol^ma. 



Top of head and nape dull dark green, entire upper parts 

 grass-green, only slightly metallic. The tail-coverts are 



