172 SYNOPSIS OP THE HU MM I N G -E I RD S. 



1. Fhlogophilus hemileucurus. 



Phlogophtlus hemileucurus, Gould. P. Z. S. (18C0), p. 310.— Id., Mou. Trocli., vol. v, pi. 360.— Id., Intr. 



Troch., octavo ed., p. 181 (18G1). 

 Elvira hemileucurus, Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, i, p. 264. 



Hah. Ecuador. 



Female? or young?. Upper surfoce and flanks grass-green. Throat white, feathers 

 tipped witli green. Chest, centre of the abdomen, and under tail coverts white. 

 Median rectrices bronze-green ; hiteral feathers white, with a band of purplish-black 

 in the centre; this band most extensive on the outer feathers and becoming nar- 

 rower as it goes towards the median ones, where on those next the central pair it 

 is merely a subterminal bar. Bill black. Feet and tarsi yellow. Total length, 31 

 in. AVing, 2 J in. Tail, 1| in. Culmen, f in. 



All the specimens known of this bird are apparently in the plumage of the female 

 or young. Mr. Gould has made it the type of a new genus, and thinks it is proba- 

 bly allied to AJdomyia. It seems to me, however, its proper place is between 

 ScMstes and Augastes, and it would not at all surprise me if it should eventually 

 prove to be the female of one of the species of the latter genus. It is so closely 

 allied to Auijastes, that I cannot perceive it possesses any generic characters to 

 separate it (unless it may be the bare tarsus) ; but for the present I leave it in the 

 genus in which Mr. Gould placed it. 



Genus LXXXVIII.— SCHISTES. 



Type. 



Schistes, Godld, Men. Troch., pt. vi (1853), and Intr. Trocli., octavo cd., p. 122 (1861). T. geoffroyi, Bourc. 



Ch. " Bill longer than the head, straight, F'S- ^6. 



wedge-shaped at the tip. Wings moderately 

 long and slightly rounded; tail rounded, the 

 feathers broad ; tarsi partially clothed ; feet 

 small ; hind toe and nail shorter than middle 

 toe and nail." (Gould, loc. cit.) srf,i„« ,.„/.,,*. s. c„iu.„Li.. .vi.i.c„. 



Range. Columbia and Ecuador. 



Two species are known, allied to Augastes in the shape of their bills; but of 

 small size, and tails not quite so liuninous. 



Key to the species. 



A. Forehead and crown bronzy-green, a faint line of luminous green on the first; 



throat luminous green : on eitiier side of the breast a tnft of lilac-blue 



Tail bronze-green, with a .subterminal chalybeate bar. 1. B. geoffroyi. 



B. Forehead, face, and throat glittering pale metallic-green. Tuft of violet-blue 



feathers on either side of breast. Tail bronze-green with a bluish lustre. 2. 6'. jnirsonalus. 



