62 IVTr. J. Gould on a new Species of Humming-bird. 



two white-booted species, Spathura Underwoodi and 8. melan- 

 anihera, frequent the regions north of the equator, that those 

 with red boots, 8. peruana^ 8. rufocaligata^ and the new one 

 about to be described, are as exclusively found to the south of 

 it, and that the white-booted 8. melananthera and this new 

 red-booted species inosculate in Ecuador. The latter, for 

 which I now propose the specific name of solstitialis, differs 

 from 8. peruana in having, like the white-booted 8. Un- 

 derwoodi, the outer margin of the spatulate tipped tail- 

 feathers grey — a character which is not to be found in either 

 of the other red-booted species. 



To monograph the species is easy : — 



1. 8pathura Underwoodi. New Granada and Caraccas. 



2. 'melananthera. Ecuador. 



3. solstitialis. Ecuador. 



4. Peruana. Peru. 



5. rufocaligata. Bolivia. 



6. scissura. Peru. 



Of the last-mentioned bird I have as yet seen but immature 

 specimens ; and a doubt has arisen in my mind as to whether 

 it may or may not be some abnormal state of a previously 

 known species ; yet I should be wanting in judgment were I 

 at the present moment to sink the name of scissura into a 

 synonym. 



One of the birds I describe below has been placed in a box 

 by itself in my collection for many years ; but I have deferred 

 characterizing it until further evidence of its being distinct 

 had been procured : this has now been obtained by an exami- 

 nation of additional specimens sent home by Mr. Buckley. 



8p>atJiura (or 8teganurus) solstitialis, Gould. 



Male. Bill black ; crown of the head and all the upper surface, 

 flanks, and under tail-coverts dull green ; wings and outer 

 tail-feathers purplish brown, the outer margins of lateral or 

 spatulate feathers grey, the remaining tail-feathers rich 

 bronzy green above ; throat and chest fine glittering green ; 

 tarsi thickly clothed with reddish buff feathers. 



Total length 5 inches ; bill f , wing If, tail 3^. 



Female. Destitute of the tail-spatules and of the thick 

 clothing of the tarsi, which are only thinly covered with 

 buff feathers ; buff" is also the colour of the crissum ; 

 upper surface grass-green ; tail bronzy green, the outer 

 feather on each side tipped with white ; under surface beau- 

 tifully spotted with green on a white ground. In size of 

 body she is about the same as the male. 



