LEPIDOLA RYNX. ^5 



1. Lepidolarynx mesoleucus. 



Trochilus mesoleucus, Temm., Plan. Col., pi. 317, fig. I. %. 



Trocliilus squamosus, Temm., Plan. Col., pi. 203, fig. 1, juv. 



Trochilus mystacinus, Vieill., Os. Dor., t. iii, pi. 21, % (inedit.). 



Mellisrcr/a squamosus, Stbph., Gen. Zool., vol. xiv, p. 24.5. 



Ornismya Temmincl'i, Less., Ois. Mouch., p. 88, pi. 20 (1829), juv. 



Ornismya mcsoleuca, Less., Ois. Mouch., p. 110, pi. 29 (1829), ail. %. 



Mellisuga melanoleuca. Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. i, p. 112, sp. 15. 



Heliomaster mesoleucus, Gould, Mon. Troch., vol. iv, pi. 262. — Bon., Consp. Gon. Av., p. 70. 



Lepidolarynx mesoleucus, Reich., Aufz. der Colib., p. 13. — Gould, liilr. 'I'rocli., octavo ed., p. 140. Miti.s., 



Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, ii, p. 283. — Reich., Troch. Enuni., p. 11. 

 Ornilhomyia mesoleucus, Bon., Rev. and Mag. Zool. (1854), p. 251. 

 Caloihorax mesoleucus, Burm., Th. Bras., vol. ii, p. 339, sp. 1 (1856). 

 Heliomaster squamosiis, Cab. and Hein., Mus. Ileiu. Th., iii, p. 53 (18G0). 



Hah. Brazil. 



Male. Top of head metallic pale green ; rest of upper parts bronzy-green. Throat 

 frill, much extended on the sides, metallic-crimson. Under surface very dark green, 

 down the centre an irregular line of Avhite. A tuft of white feathers on the flanks, 

 and a white line beneath the eye. Under tail coverts blackisli-purple margined 

 with white. Median rectrices dark bronze-green, remainder purplish-black. Bill 

 black. Total length, 4| in. Wing, 2y^g in. Tail, 1 -^ in. C'ulmen, \\ in. 



Female. Upper surfiice bronzy-green. Feathers on the tliroat dark olive margined 

 with white; under surfiice bronze-green, Avith a median white stripe. Middle 

 rectrices bronze-green, rest bronze-green at base, with the remaining portions black 

 tipped with white. Bill black. 



Yoking. Specimen from Baliia has the crown greenish-brown, each feather mar- 

 gined with white. Throat pure white, rest as in the female. 



The next genus, Heliomaster, was proposed by Bonaparte in the Compt. Rendus 

 for 1850, and the T. fi(,rcifer, Shaw, cited as the type, no otlier species being men- 

 tioned. In the Consp. Av., Heliomaster is made to contain various species, whicli 

 cannot possibly be grouped togetlier in the same genus; hut furcl/er (called ainjcla) 

 is placed first. If, as the date would seem to imply, this portion of the Conspectus 

 Avium was published in 1849 (of which I can find no proof), the subsequent article 

 in the Compt. Rendus disposes of the arrangement given, and leaves furci/cr to 

 represent the genus; but if the Consp. Av. came afterwards, the fact i\vdt fureifcr 

 is placed first in the list indicates that it is still deemed the type of Heliomaster, 

 to which the species that follow were added. In either case the present species is 

 the only one that can be placed in the genus, there being no other as yet known 

 possessing the same characters. The genus Heliomastes!, Bon., Rev. and IMag. 

 Zook (1854), p. 251, is probably a misprint, but as it contains such species as that 

 included in Floricola, Elliot, and Camptlopterus!!, Swain., there is nothing left 

 to represent it as a type; and if it is not a misprint, it is too close to Heliomaster 

 to be employed without creating confusion. Tlic single species is a very beautiful 

 one, remarkable for the crimson throat surrounded by deep metallic-blue. 



