Genera of Hiininiiiio' Birds. 77 



brown. Tall luminous bronzv-green changing to purple in 

 certain lights, on the upper surface, and metallic luminous 

 grass-green on the under surface, the three outermost feathers 

 tipped with brownish-gray. Rill and feet black. 



Total length, Sy'ri"- ^^'i'^S' -ttt- Tail, ih. Culmen, ^73. 

 From Bourcier's Collection. " Elliot, loc. cit." 

 This rare species which seems to be very closely allied to 

 M. cTiieicauda was discovered in Ecuador, by Mr. Osculati, 

 and was dedicated bv Bourcier to Count Frimoli, grandson of 

 Prince Canino. 



^106. Mktaij.ik.A WiLl.iAMl, Bourc and Delatt., Rev. Zool., 



1S66, p. 308. 



Mellisuga Willinnii, Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. i, p. 112. 



Urolampra Williami, Cab. and Hein., Mus. Hein., t. iii., 

 p. 68. 



Purple Tail, Gould, Mon. Troch., vol. iii., p. 193. 



La Metallure de William, Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mou., 

 1876, t. iii., p. I 15. 



Habitat. — Columbia. 



Male. — Upper surface dark bronzv-green. Throat and 

 upper part of breast luminous grass-green. Under surface 

 bronzy-green, the base of the feathers buff. Wings purplish- 

 brown. Tail dark green above, with bright purple reflections 

 in certain lights, beneath luminous violet with green reflections. 

 Bill and feet black. 



Total length, 3fin. Wing, 2\. Tail, i^. Culmen, \. 



Tvpe in Elliot's Collection ? " Elliot, loc. cit." 



Genus XXXVII. Avocettinus, Bon., Rev. and Mag. 

 Zool., 1854, p. 256. 

 Opisthoprora, Cab. and Hein., Mus. Hein, i860, t. iii., 

 p. 76. 



Type : T.-eurypterus, Loddiges. 



Bill shorter than the head, maxilla straight until just at the 

 tip, when it turns slightly upwards, mandible straight up to 

 the middle, then turning sharply upwards. Wings long. 

 Tail long, slightly forked, rectrices wide. Feet strong, hind 

 toe of same length as middle toe and nail. Sexes alike. 



Habitat. — Columbia. 



