DORIFERA LUDOVICIJE. 



Green-fronted Lance-Bill. 



TrocMlus Ludovicite, Bourc. et Muls. in Ann. de la Soc. Roy. d'Agric. &c. de Lyon, 1847, 



p. 136. 

 Mellisuga Ludovicm, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, MeUisuga, sp. 19. 

 Dorifera ludovici(e, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 68, Dorifera, sp. 1. 



Naturalists often assume the privilege of honouring individuals by naming remarkable species after 

 them, and although this practice is by no means to be commended, it is one which may readily be excused 

 when exercised in favour of those whose names are favourably known in the annals of science ; in the present 

 instance it has been employed with singular appropriateness to do honour, through his wife, to M. Isidore 

 Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, whose fame as a scientific naturalist is familiar to every one. 



The Dorifera Liidomcice is remarkable for its short and robust body, the length of its wings, and the 

 straight, sharp, needle-like form of its bill, features in its structure which doubtless in some way modify its 

 habits ; probably the peculiar shape of the bill is especially fitted for procuring its insect food from the 

 smaller kinds of tubular flowers, or from among the prickly spines of the Cacti, tribes of plants which 

 abound in the country frequented by the bird. Like many other rarities, this species is a native of New 

 Grenada, and particularly the neighbourhood of Santa Fe de Bogota, from whence alone I believe up to this 

 time specimens have been received ; but whether it is a native of the upland or lowland districts of the 

 country is unknown. 



All the examples that have come under my notice have been alike in colour, which induces me to believe 

 that there is no difference in the colouring of the sexes; but this of course is uncertain. 



Forehead luminous metallic green ; crown of the head and nape coppery bronze ; back and wing-coverts 

 dark bronzy green, passing into bluish green on the upper tail-coverts; wings purplish brown; tail black, 

 tipped with brownish grey, slightly on the two middle and largely on the lateral feathers ; under surface 

 dark bronzy green with a tinge of grey ; under tail-coverts grey, with reflexions of bluish green ; bill black ; 

 feet fleshy-brown. 



The figures are of the size of life. 



