THALURANIA ERIPHILE. 



Brazilian Wood-Nymph. 



Ornismya Eriphile, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois.-mou., Supp. p. 148. pi. 25. — lb. Ind. Gen. et Syn. 



des Ois. du gen. Trochilus, p. xxij. 

 Polytnms Eriphile, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 64. 

 Thalurania eryphila^ Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 254. 



Erypldle^ Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 7. 



— eriphile, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 77, Thakirania^ sp. 7. — Gould in Proc. of Zool 



Soc., part XX. p. 9. 



The Thalurania Eriphile is one of the two Brazilian representatives of the genus, the other being the 

 T. glaucopis ; and these, so far as I am aware, are the only species of the form inhabiting at least the eastern 

 part of that great country. The present bird is tolerably common both in Minas Geraes and Bahia, as is 

 proved by the great numbers that are sent to Europe from those districts. It is a stout robust bird, not so 

 graceful in form as many of its allies. Although the colouring is showy and attractive, the green of the 

 crown must yield in brilliancy to that of its mountain representative, the T. vertkeps. 



In the T. Eriphile the entire face, ear-coverts and throat are uniform uninterrupted green, while the under 

 surface is beautiful smalt-blue ; and the shoulders are but slightly tipped with this hue, in which respect it 

 differs from all its allies. 



Although an inhabitant of that comparatively well-known country, Brazil, I find httle or nothing has been 

 recorded respecting its history, which is very singular, considering the numbers of scientific travellers that 

 have visited that country. 



Forehead, face and throat shining grass-green ; upper surface deep green, washed with blue on the tips 

 of the shoulders, and with bronze on the greater coverts of the wing and the upper coverts of the tail ; 

 under surface beautiful blue ; wings purplish brown ; tail bluish black. 



The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Galipea macrophylla. 



