THALURANIA COLUMBICA. 



Columbian Wood-Nymph, 



Ornismya Colombica, Bourc. et Muls. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 2. — lb. Ann. de la Soc. Sci. de Lyon, 



1843, pi. 6. 

 Polytmm Cohimbicus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 60. 

 Thaliirania Columbiana, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xx. p. 8. 



colombica, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p, 254. 



columbica, Reiclienb. Aufz. der Col., p. 7. 



However highly M. Warszewicz may liave extolled the loveliness of the Thalurania venusto^ it scarcely exceeds 

 that of the bird here represented, which must also be regarded as a species of great beauty and elegance. 

 As its name implies, its native country is Columbia, and the chief mart whence specimens are sent to Europe 

 is that great emporium of bird-skins, Santa Fe de Bogota. It differs from all the other known species in its 

 small neat blue cap, and the almost total absence of blue on the back, this colour being more confined to 

 the shoulders ; I observe, too, that the green colouring of the throat descends farther down the chest than 

 in T.fiircatiis, and that this mark, moreover, assumes a more rounded form on its lower margin ; the bird 

 is also somewhat larger in size. 



The great number of specimens that are sent to Europe — principally to France — testify that the bird is 

 very abundant in the districts visited by the Indian collector. Fortunately, this bird has received only a 

 single specific appellation ; but it has been placed in three distinct genera. 



The male has the crown of the head, a band across the centre of the back, the lesser wing-coverts, the 

 under wing-coverts, the abdomen, fianks and under tail-coverts of a lovely blue; back of the head and neck, 

 back and greater wing-coverts black in some lights, deep green in others ; throat and breast shining grass- 

 green ; wings purplish brown ; upper tail-coverts and tail black, glossed with steel-blue. 



The female is golden green above, grey beneath ; tail green at the base, the apical portion steel-blue, all 

 but the two middle feathers tipped with greyish white. 



The fio'ures are of the natural size. The plant is the Gitaltherui bracteata. 



