294 Mr. D. G. Elliot on a new Humming Bird. 



ably from any of the known species composing this well-marked 

 group of the Trochilidse. 



Four specimens, precisely alike, were, as I was informed, con- 

 tained in the small collection of birds from which my example 

 was taken ; and, although no locality was given, it is supposed 

 that Ecuador is the habitat of the species. I propose to call 

 it, from its sombre plumage, 



Eriocnemis dyselius. 



Head, and entire upper parts, black, with a purplish gloss ; 

 upper tail-coverts having a very dark greenish gloss ; throat and 

 underparts black, but not of so deep a shade as the upper parts, 

 purplish on the abdomen ; wings purplish black ; tarsi thickly 

 covered with pure white downy feathers ; under tail-coverts pur- 

 plish black ; tail rather deeply forked, steel-blue, with purple 

 reflections ; the bill is perfectly straight and rather slender. 



Total length 4 inches, wings 2^, tail 1|, bill f . 



Among the many groups that comprise the great family of the 

 Trochilidse, there are few more strongly characterized than that 

 of Eriocnemis, from the fact that all its members are possessed 

 of very conspicuous tufts of various colours, viz. white, black, 

 brown, or brown and white, which cover the tarsi, and from which 

 the species have obtained the trivial name of Puff-leg. 



Thirteen species have been described ; and Mr, Gould, in his 

 beautiful monograph of this family, has divided them into six 

 sections according to their plumage. In this arrangement the 

 present species would take its place among the sombre members 

 of the genus, and would be found with E. Ivgens, E. squamata, 

 and E. aurelia. 



The species known as E.isaacsoni has usually been considered 

 a member of this genus, and has been placed, by Mr. Gould 

 and others, close to E. luciani and E. mosquera. The great 

 rarity of this bird has prevented ornithologists from becoming- 

 well acquainted with it. I only know of two examples — one in 

 the Derby Museum at Liverpool, and the other in my own 

 collection. After a very careful examination of the bird, and 

 comparison with those heretofore considered its allies, I have 

 come to the conclusion that it is much nearer the members of 

 the genus Helianthea than it is to those of Eriocnemis. In the 



