xciv 



INTRODUCTION, 



299. VuMOhMM A MQVATomAhis, Gould • • Vol. IV. PL 269. 



Habitat. Ecuador. 



Genus Eriocnemis, Reichenb. 



The conspicuous tufts of feathers with which the legs of the Eriocnemides are clothed is a feature both novel 

 and pecuhar ; and as it is not to be found in any other group of birds, they are thereby rendered especially singular. 

 In some these powder-puff-like decorations are white, in others brown and white, and in one jet black. All the 

 species are confined to that portion of the Andes which is bounded on the north by New Granada, and on the 

 south by Bolivia. 



It is not to be supposed that the minor distinctive characters which exist among the many species of this group 

 should have passed unnoticed by ornithologists ; on the contrary, they have attracted the notice of more than one 

 writer, and the birds which were all formerly included in the genus Eriopus or Eriocnemis have received the sub- 

 generic titles of Engyete, Threptria, Phemonoe, Aline, Luciania, Mosqtieria, Derhyomia, &c., — a tolerable division for 

 the genus first estabhshed by me in 1847, under the name of Eriopus, I shall now give my own views on the 

 subject, and point out those which I consider to be natural divisions. The first, then, is the well-known E, cuprei- 

 ventris, with which I associate the E, Isaacsoni, the E. Luciani ^nd the E. Mosquera, In all these the sexes are alike 

 in colour. The next division comprises E, vestita and E. nigrivestis, as they both have a brilliant patch of feathers 

 on the throat, and the lower part of the back and the upper tail-coverts exceedingly luminous ; and their females 

 are somewhat different and less brilliant in colour. The E. Godini and E. D'Orbignyi form another little section; 

 but we really know so little respecting these species, that nothing can be said with certainty as to their females. 

 The black -puffed E, Derbiana stands alone, and a rare and very beautiful bird it is. The E, Alince is distinguished 

 from all the rest by the glittering green of its face and under-surface ; it is by far the smallest species of the genus, 

 while it has the largest puffs; and the female, although bearing a general resemblance to the male, is far less 

 brilliant. The members of the next section are very sombre in their colouring, as will be seen on reference to the 

 plates on which they are represented ; they are E. squamata^ E. lugens, and E. Aurelice. Ornithologists may please 

 themselves about adopting generic terms for these minute divisions ; but, for myself, I have kept them all under 

 that of Eriocnemis, and still feel inclined to do so. They all possess the important character of the puff leg, and 

 they are remarkably alike as to the amount of this peculiar ornamentation. 



300. Eriocnemis ctjpreiventris .......... Vol. IV. Pis. 270, 271. 



Phemonoe cupriventris, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9. 



Eriocnemis cupriventris, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 729. figs. 4668-69. 

 Eriocnemis cupreiventris, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 73. 

 Habitat. The Andes in New Granada. 



I now believe that the bird I have called Eriocnemis simplex is merely a dark variety of the E. cupreiventris. 

 Such varieties do now and then occur with other species of the family ; the cause I cannot attempt to explain. 



301. Eriocnemis Isaacsoni Vol. IV. PL 272. 



Eriocnemis Isaacsoni, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 761. fig. 4700. 



Habitat, New Granada. 



I have never seen any other than the type specimen of this species, which is now in the Derby Museum at 

 Liverpool. 



302. Eriocnemis Luciani ............. Vol. IV. PI. 273. 



Phemonoe Luciani, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9. 



Eriocnemis Luciani, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 730. figs. 4671-72. 



Habitat, Ecuador ; western side of Pichincha, at an elevation of 10,000 to 12,000 feet {Jameson^. 



303. Eriocnemis Mosquera ■•■•...,.... Vol. IV. PI. 274, 

 Threptria Mosquera, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 9. 



Eriocnemis Mosquera, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 6, pi. 728. fifys. 4664-65. 

 Habitat. The neighbourhood of Pasto in New Granada QDelattre'). 



304. Eriocnemis vestita •.•-......... Vol IV Pi 275. 



Eriocnemis vestita, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 73. 



Habitat, The Andes of New Granada. Commonly sent from Bogota. 



