Ixx INTRODUCTION. 



Genus Calliphlox, Bote. 

 Perhaps the very commonest of the frill-necked Humming-Birds is the C. amethystina. It is more widely 

 spread than many other species, since it inhabits all the countries from Brazil to Venezuela. 



In this genus I have also placed the C Mitchelli ; but I have some doubt as to the propriety of so doing. The 



throats of the tvs^o birds, although beautifully coloured, are not luminous. 



178. Calliphlox AMETHYSTINA ............ Vol. III. PL 159. 



Trochilus brevicaudus, Spix, Av. Bras. torn, i, p. 79, tab. 



orthiirus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 00, pi. 8 ? 



Cynanthus amethystimis. Id. ib. vol. ii. p. 143. 



? orthura, Id. ib. vol. ii. p. 143 ? 



Habitat. Brazil, Demerara, Cayenne, and Trinidad. 



Whether the Ornismya orthura of Lesson be a species or an old female of C. amethystina requires further inves- 

 tigation. Wherever the C. amethystina is found in Brazil, Trinidad, or Demerara, the O. orthura is found in its 

 company— a fact which militates against its being a distinct species. 



179. Calliphlox amethystoides, Less, 



Trochilus amethystoides, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 62. 



Cytianthus amethystoides, Id. ib. vol ii. p. 143. 



Calliphlox amethystoides, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 84. 



Habitat. Minas Geraes in Brazil. 



In my account of C. amethystina I have regarded this species as identical with that bird ; but M. Bourcier is 

 still of opinion that it is distinct; and as I find that it is of smaller size, and the tint of the gorget is somewhat 

 different, I defer to his opinion. It will not, however, be necessary to give a separate figure of it. Specimens from 

 Minas Geraes are certainly more diminutive than from elsewhere. 



180. Calliphlox? Mitchelli Vol. III. PI. 160. 



Habitat. Southern parts of New Granada and Ecuador. 



I have now gone through the species of Humming-Birds distinguished for their diminutive size, the delicacy of 

 their structure, and for their luminous gorgets. It is true that many other groups have their throats similarly 

 adorned, such as the members of the genera Oreotrochilus, Heliangelus, &c. ; but these birds are all of large size and 

 of very different form, and as we proceed I think it will be seen that they are better placed hereafter. I proceed 

 next, then, with the racket-tailed species — the Spathurce, &c. I admit that there is no direct alliance between 

 these and the former ; but it will be recollected that I have stated that the Hummino;-Birds cannot be arrano-ed in 

 anything like a series of affinities. Here, then, we commence with a very different group; remarkable for the 

 pecuhar character of the tail in most of its members. Among these I place in the foremost rank the extraordinary 

 bird bearing the specific name mirabilis. As any description, however accurate, must fail to give a correct idea of 

 this singular species, 1 must refer my readers to the Plate, upon which it is correctly depicted. 



Genus Loddigesia, Gould, 

 {Loddiges., nom. prop.) 



Male.— Bill straight and longer than the head ; wings diminutive ; primaries rounded at the tip ; outer tail- 

 feather on each side very much prolonged, and terminating in a large spatule. 

 Female. — Unknown. 



181. Loddigesia MIRABILIS, Gould ■-.......,. Vol. III. PL 161. 



Habitat. Chachapoyas in Peru. 



The racket-tailed birds I have figured under the generic name of Spathura are spread over the temperate 

 regions of the great Andean range of mountains from the northern parts of New Granada to Bolivia. Much con- 

 fusion prevails with respect to the generic appellation of these birds. The case stands thus : in 1846 I proposed 

 the term Ocreatus, and in 1850 substituted that of Spathura; while in 1849 Dr. Reichenbach employed that of 

 Steganurus, which he changed in 1853 to Steganura. In the body of this work all the species are arif,nged under 

 my own generic name, which I hope may be allowed to stand. 



