Genera of Hiiiiuning Birds. 83 



Genus XL. Augastes, Gould, Int. Troch., 1S61, p. 123. 



Lamprlrus, Reich., Aufz. der Col., 1853, p. 12. 



TVPK : T. superhus, Vieillot. 



Bill straight, acutely pointed, serrated in the middle. Wings 

 long, reaching the end of tail. Tarsi clothed. Tail rounded, 

 nearly square. Rectrices wide. 



Habitat. — Brazil. 



114. Augastes superbus, Vieill., Encyel. Meth., t iii., p. 561 



Trochilus scutatus, Natt. Temm. PI. Col., No. 299, Fig. 3. 



Ornismya nattereri, Less. Ois. Mou., 1829, p. 75. 



Hylocharis superba, Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. i., p. 114. 



Natterer's Vizor-bearer, Gould, Mon. Troch., vol. iv., p. 

 221. 



L'Aiigaste superbe, Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mou., 1876, t. iii., 

 p. 150. ' 



Habitat. — Brazil. 



Male. — Forehead and throat metallic emerald-green, with 

 pale golden reflections. Band across the crown, and ear- 

 coverts extending to throat, black. A spot behind the eye 

 white. I'pperside sometimes bronzy-green or dark shining 

 green. Uppertail-coverts grayish-bronze. Median rectrices 

 rufous at base, sometimes golden bronze, or golden bronze at 

 base and rest greenish-bronze, lateral varies also from greenish- 

 bronze to bluish-green. Sides of throat and rest of underside 

 shining indigo-blue, with a large buffy-white spot in the 

 middle of the breast. In one of mv specimens a wide buffy- 

 white band crosses entirely the middle of chest. Lhidertail- 

 coverts green, edged with grayish white. Bill and feet black. 

 Wrings purplish-brown. 



Total length, ^iin. Winor 2%. Tail. li. Culmen, 44- 



Female. — L^pperside bronzv-green, golden on forehead. 

 Ear-coverts brownish-black. Throat metallic-green, but not 

 so brilliant as in the male. A white band across the breast. 

 Abdomen and flanks greenish-blue. L'ndertail-coverts gray. 

 (Jutermost rectrices with gray tips. Bill black, 



This beautiful species is rather rare in the collections. My 

 adult specimens differ so much that I reallv do not know if 

 they are not two species mixed together. 



