HELIANTHEA VIOLIFERA, Gould. 



Violet-throated Star-frontlet. 



Trochilus ( ?) violifer, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xiv. p. 87. 



Mellisuga violifera, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellisuga, sp. 9. 

 Helianthea violifer, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 75, Helianthea, sp. 4. 



violifera, lb. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 251.— Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, 



p. 9. 



The first specimens I received of this new species of Helianthea were sent to me by Mr. Bridges of 

 Valparaiso, who collected them during his journey into the interior of Bolivia : subsequently others were 

 forwarded to me from the same country, and also from Peru, by M. Warszewicz ; Southern Peru and 

 Bolivia, then, appear to be its true habitat. The locality given by Mr. Bridges is the warm region of 

 Sandillani New Road, Yungas of La Paz in Bolivia ; that by M. Warszewicz is the Province of Chulimania 

 in the Cordillera of Peru, at an elevation of from 3000 to 6000 feet, where it greatly affects the flowers 

 of Salvia longiflora. The total absence of any fine colouring on the under surface of this bird has almost 

 induced me to give it a separate generic appellation ; but, after again and again carefully comparing it 

 with the other species of the form, I hesitate from so doing. It has the usual star-frontlet and blue throat- 

 mark, but the former character is developed in a very much less degree than in any of its congeners : it also 

 differs from the other Helianthece in having an obscure band of white on the lower part of the neck. It has 

 a longer bill than either of them, and, moreover, is a somewhat larger bird. 

 The sexes differ in accordance with the figures on the accompanying Plate. 



The male has the head, back of the neck, chin, ear-coverts and breast dark green, so deep, in fact, that 

 when viewed in front, the head appears to be black ; in the centre of the throat a patch of violet-blue ; across 

 the lower part of the throat a narrow band of white ; back and rump golden green ; abdomen, upper and 

 under tail-coverts light rufous ; tail light rufous, the apical third of the two central, and the tips of the 

 remainder washed with bronzy green ; wings purplish brown, with the external edge of the first primary 

 rufous ; bill black. 



The female has the throat rufous, mottled with green, in lieu of the green and violet colouring of that 

 part of the male. 



The figures are the size of life. The plant is the Passiflora Meduscea. 



