GLAUCIS LANCEOLATA, GoM. 



Lanceolate Hermit. 



Many years have now elapsed since I received, direct from Para, three specimens, all of which appear to 

 he fully adult, of a species of Glands which M. Bourcier, of Paris, as well as myself, considers to be 

 distinct from any of those already described. This bird is figured on the accompanying plate ; and it will 

 be readily seen that, although it bears a general resemblance to the G, Mazeppa, it has a very different 

 tail, the feathers being narrow and much more pointed or lance-shaped. I am quite aware that this pointed 

 form of tail-feather is characteristic of the young of nearly all the species of the genus, and indeed of the 

 genera PhaethorTiis, Eutoweres, and Threnetes\ but in no instance have I seen it carried to so great an extent 

 as in the specimens above mentioned. They also exhibit another characteristic of the young of most, if 

 not all the species of this section of the Trochilidce — namely that of having the primaries and secondaries 

 narrowly margined with buffy grey. With this remark I leave the subject for the consideration of future 

 ornithologists, and content myself with suggesting that one of the points to which we should all direct 

 attention is that of ascertaining the specific value of this and the three or four nearly alHed members of 

 the genus Glands — namely, G. hirsuta, G. Mazeppa, G, melanura^ and G, affinh — whether they are all 

 referable to one, or constitute as many distinct species. The very wide extent of country over which these 

 birds range is in favour of the latter hypothesis. 



Crown of the head dark brown ; all the upper surface, wing-coverts, and sides of the neck shining green ; 

 two centre tail-feathers green, tipped with white, the next rufous at the base, black glossed with green near 

 the extremity, and tipped with white ; the three outer ones on each side rich deep rufous, crossed near the 

 extremity by a band of black, beyond which the tips are white ; wings purplish brown, the primaries and 

 secondaries margined at their tips with buflfy grey; lores and ear-coverts dark brown; mark behind 

 the eye, stripe from the angle of the bill and the chin buflf ; throat and breast rufous, becoming much paler 

 on the abdomen, and still paler on the under tail-coverts ; upper mandible blackish brown ; under mandible 

 yellow, with a black tip ; feet yellow or flesh-colour. 



The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Gesnerla hulbosa^ var. lateritia. 



