ZODALIA. 



149 



Genus LXXVI.— ZODALIA. 



Zodalia, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, iii, p. 281 (187G). 



Fig. 84. 



Ttpe. 

 Lesbia ortoni, Lawr. 



Zodulia yli/cria. i (From Gould.) 



Ch. Bill straight, shorter than the head. Tail long, deeply forked, feathers 

 broad and even throughout their length. 

 Range. Columbia and Ecuador. 

 Two species only are known. 



Key to the species. 

 A. Throat metallic pale green. 



a. Upper parts purple. Median rcctrices green, external onc.=? brownish-black. 1. Z. ortoni. 



b. Upper parts sliining green. Rectrices reddisb-purple. 2. Z. glijcena. 



I have adopted the term Zodalia for these birds, as proposed by M. Mulsant, for 

 in many ways they appear to differ from tlu; species of all other allied genera. They 

 are rather large in size, with short feeble bills, rectrices broad for their length, and 

 a general style of coloration that, were it not for their metallic throats, would be 

 suggestive of the female sex. The types of the two known species are unique. 



1. *Zodalia ortoni. 



Leshia ortoni, Lawr., Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. ITist. (18G9), vol. ix, p. 269. 

 Zodalia ortoni, Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Moucb., torn, iii, p. 282. 



Hah. Quito, Ecuador. 



Male. " Entire upper plumage and wing coverts of a rich glossy purple ; the con- 

 cealed bases of the feathers are green ; upper tail coverts similar in color to the 

 back, but marked centrally between the purple and green with crimson ; the tail 



