330 Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trochilidae. 



XXXV. — Notes on the Trochilidse. The Genus Helianthea. 

 By D. G. Elliot, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



The genus Helianthea is composed at the present time of eight 

 species, two of which, however, should perhaps only rank as geo- 

 graphical races. The members of the genus are, with one excep- 

 tion, rather large birds, possessing long, straight, very acute 

 bills, and constitute a w'ell-defined group of the Trochilidse. 

 From the great rarity of the majority of the species, they are 

 not well known, but few collections possessing specimens of 

 more than three species ; and at present no collection, except 

 my own, that I am aware of, contains all the species known. 

 All the males have a luminous mark upon the forehead, and 

 also one upon the throat, these distinctive characters being 

 less circumscribed in H. isaacsoni, which has the throat gene- 

 rally luminous. 



The group may be divided into three sections as follows : — 



Eui7ip and underpart exceedingly luminoiis. 



1. Tail steel-black, rump metallic green H- isaacsoni 



2. Tail broAvnisli black, rump metallic blue H. tijpica. 



3. Tail gi-eeu, rump metallic golden yellow H. honapurtii. 



4. Tail cinnamon tipped witb gi-een H. cos. 



Rump not luminous, underpays slicjhtly metallic. 



5. Tail gi-eenish brown, yellow patch on secondaries. ... H. liitetiee. 



TJnderparts huff. 



6. Tail rufous, white band across breast H. violifera. 



7. Tail bright buff tipped with green, breast green H. osculans. 



8. Tail with a broad terminal band of green H. dichioura. 



All the species are natives of the Andes, dwelling for the 

 chief part amid their loftier heights, on both sides of the 

 equator. The locality of H. isaacsoni is unknown, the speci- 

 men in my collection, and one in the museum at Liverpool, 

 being all that have ever been procured. H. lutetice is a native 

 of Ecuador, but is not found nearer Quito than the valleys of 

 Lloa and Pelogalli. H. typica is a native of Columbia, very 

 common about Bogota. H. eos is found in the vicinity of 

 Mcrida, in Venezuela, which at present is its only known lo- 



