HYPUROPTILA UROCHRYSIA, Gould. 



Golden-tailed Plumeleteer. 



Hypuroptila urochrysia, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, May 14, 1861. 



I POSSESS a single example of this new species oi Hypuroptila, which was shot by M. Warszewicz in the 

 neighbourhood of Panama; but the precise locality I have not been able to ascertain. I have delayed 

 describing this bird until the present moment (May 1861), in the hope of receiving other examples, and 

 of obtaining some information respecting its habits and economy. In point of size it is about equal to the 

 H. Bufoni, to which it also bears a close resemblance in the plumage of the body; its rich golden-bronzy 

 tail will, however, always distinguish it from that and every other known species. I have no doubt that I 

 have placed the bird in the right genus, although the under tail-coverts are not so fully developed in my 

 specimen as in H, Buffoni or H. cceruleogaster \ this, however, I conceive to be due to imperfection, occa- 

 sioned by some of them having been lost in the process of skinning, rather than to any other cause. 



I am unable to say if any difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes ; but if we may judge from 

 analogy, the female will be found to resemble those of H. Buffoni and H, cceruleogaster. 



Head and upper surface dark green, becoming of a bronzy hue on the wing- and tail-coverts; wings 

 purplish brown ; tail rich golden bronze both above and beneath ; throat and breast grass-green ; abdomen 

 bronzy green ; thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts pure white ; upper mandible black, lower mandible fleshy 

 red with a black tip ; tarsi either yellow or flesh-colour. 



The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Pitcairnia undulatifolia. 



