PETASOPHORA DELPHIN^. 



Brown Violet-Ear. 



Ornismya Delphina, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 44. — lb. Echo du Monde savante, 1843, 



no. 31. — lb. 111. de Zool., torn. ii. pi. 64. 

 Petasophora Delpliinm, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part xv. p. 8. 

 Polytmm Delphiiue, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmm, sp. 30. 

 Colibri delpkinte, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 69, Colibri, sp. 6. 



No member of the genus Petasophora^ nor indeed of the whole family of Trochilidae, enjoys a more extensive 

 range than this well-marked species ; for it inhabits alike Trinidad, the low countries of Cayenne and 

 Demerara, the Caraccas, and the temperate regions of Columbia ; M. Warszewicz has also sent it to me 

 from the Andes of Quindios and from Peru, and it is occasionally found in collections from Santa Fe de 

 Bogota. Its sombre colouring, and the rufous brown hue of the lower part of the back and the upper 

 tail-coverts, at once distinguish it from every other member of the genus ; and the only difference I have 

 observed between the upland and lowland specimens is that the former are of a somewhat smaller size ; in 

 colour and markings they are alike. 



Head, upper and under surface dark olive-brown ; the feathers of the rump and upper tail-coverts largely 

 tipped with dull rufous ; wings purplish brown ; tail pale bronzy brown, crossed near the tip by a broad 

 band of dark brown ; ear-coverts rich purplish blue; down each side of the face a stripe of greyish buff; 

 on the centre of the throat a small patch of tessellated feathers, the lower portion of which is blue and the 

 upper bronzy green ; vent and under tail-coverts pale rufous, with darker centres ; bill and feet blackish 

 brown. 



The figures are of the size of life. 



