504 MR. J. GOULD ON SIX NEW HUMMING-BIRDS. [May 16, 



so anomalous is its colouring ; but on further investigation I am 

 induced to characterize it as distinct. Its nearest allies are Helia- 

 trypha parzudalci and Heliangehis clarissce ; but it differs from both 

 in having a more lengthened bill, in tbe different colouring of its 

 under tail-coverts, and in the unusual hue of its throat. 



Heliomaster albicrissa, Gould. 



Throat fiery reddish purple ; crown light glistening green ; upper 

 surface and two central tail-feathers bronzy green, with the usual 

 white mark in the centre of the back ; four outer feathers on each 

 side bronzy green, becoming nearly black towards the end, and 

 tipped with white, the external one more largely than the others ; 

 wings purplish brown ; chest grey ; flanks bronzy grey ; centre of 

 the abdomen white ; bill black. 



Total length 4^ inches ; bill If, wing If, tail 1|, tarsi 5. 



Hab. Citado in Ecuador. 



Remark. Notwithstanding the uncertainty as to whether Helio- 

 master longirotris, H. stiiartce, H. sclateri, and H. pallidiceps are 

 all one or so many distinct species, I feel that I have no alternative 

 but to add to the confusion, if confusion there is, by giving the 

 above description of a bird of the same form lately sent by Mr. 

 Buckley from Citado in Eucador. Its size is about the same as that 

 of H. longirostris and its near allies ; but it differs from them all 

 in having a still larger and longer bill and a much redder throat- 

 mark, in the white spot on the external tail-feather being longer or 

 larger, in the lower part of the abdomen being white ; in the under 

 tail-coverts being greyish white, instead of blackish green, with 

 lighter edges, and in the glittering feathers of the crown being of as 

 pale, or nearly as pale a green as in the H. pallidiceps of Mexico. 

 As the peculiar markings of the tail and the under tail-coverts do 

 not occur in H. longirostris of Trinidad and some parts of Vene- 

 zuela, nor in the H. sclateri of Costa Rica, I am induced to regard 

 the present bird as new. 



Lesbia chlorura, Gould. 



Crown of the head and all the upper surface golden green ; 

 gorget glittering green, round and well-defined as in L. gouldi ; 

 abdomen mottled green and buff, its lower portion and the under 

 tail-coverts pure buff ; wings purplish brown ; the eight central tail- 

 feathers entirely light green, the external one on each side olive, 

 finely powdered and tipped with green, and having the outer web 

 buff for more than half its length from the base. 



Total length 6| inches ; bill T 9 ^, wing 2, tail 5|. 



This species has all the characteristics of elegance ; indeed a more 

 graceful little creature can scarcely be conceived. It is very nearly 

 allied to Lesbia gouldi and L. gracilis, but differs from both in 

 having a more lengthened, straighter, and greener tail, and is more 

 especially distinguished by having a much longer and stouter bill 

 than either of them. Its native country is supposed to be Peru. 

 The specimen described has been in my possession for a length of 



