THALURANIA VERTICEPS, GouM. 



Green-crowned Wood-Nymph. 



Trochihis [Thalurania) verticeps, Gould, in Jard. Cont. to Oni. 1851, p. 79. pi. 71. 



Thalurania verticeps, Gould, in Proc. of ZooL Soc, part xx. p. 9. — Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 



1854, p. 254. 

 Trochilus Fannyi, Bourc. et De Latt. Rev. Zool. 1846^ p. 310. 



Hylocharis Fannyi^ Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharisy sp. 20. 

 TJialurania Lydia^ Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 7. 

 Riccordia verticeps, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 8. 



It would appear that, as we pass along the great chain of the Andes from north to south, or vice versa, every 

 few degrees of latitude present us with a distinct species of Thalnrania ; I say distinct, because in no group 

 are the specific characters more decidedly different or more clearly defined than in the members of the 

 present genus. Of all the known species, the T. verticeps, a native of Ecuador and Peru, is the most 

 southern representative of the form in those elevated regions. The specimens I possess were principally 

 procured by Professor Jameson in the neighbourhood of Quito. I have also received others from the 

 Napo, and M. Warszewicz obtained examples in the Cordilleras of Quindios. It is a fine and truly elegant 

 species, differing from all others in the resplendent glittering green of its crown, bounded posteriorly in 

 some specimens by a narrow mark of blue, occupying a single, or at most two or three feathers. On the * 

 shoulder the purplish blue is most brilliant, while in the centre of the back the colour is generally absent. 

 The specimens collected at Quindios are smaller than those procured in the neighbourhood of Quito and the 

 Napo, and accord precisely with the bird to which M. Bourcier has given the name of Fanny, Some persons 

 might be inclined to believe that these birds are distinct, but as they merely differ in size, I shall consider 

 them to be one and the same until corroborating evidence of their being two species has been received. 

 The specific term Fanny given to this bird by M. Bourcier having been previously assigned by Lesson to 

 another member of the family, Dr. Reichenbach substituted in 1853 the appellation of Lydia\ verticeps had, 

 however, been given to it by myself two years before, consequently it has the priority, and is necessarily 

 the one adopted. The female, of which I have seen several examples, assimilates very closely to the females 

 of T.furcata and the other smaller members of the group ; the grey of the throat is, however, rather more 

 circumscribed. 



Forehead and anterior portion of the head occupied by a round spot of shining green ; throat and breast 

 shining green ; back of the head, neck, back, rump and upper tail-coverts dark glossy green, with a wash of 

 bronze on the back of the neck; shoulders metallic blue, passing into green; wings purplish black; tail 

 o-reenish black, and considerably forked; abdomen dark glossy blue ; under tail-coverts greenish blue, mar- 

 gined with white ; tarsi clothed with greyish-white feathers; bill black ; feet fleshy brown. 



The fis'ures are of the natural size. The plant is the Clavija ornata. 



