CCELiGENA PRUNELLI. 



Prunelle's Coelig-ene. 



Trochilus Prunelli, Bourc. Ann. de la Soc. Sci. de Lyon, torn. vi. 1843, p. 36. pi. 1. — lb. Rev 



Zool. 1843, p. 70. 

 Mellimga Prunettei, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 112, Mellimga, sp. 11. 

 Homophania Prunellii, Reich. Aufz. der Col., p. 10. 

 Bourcieria prunellii, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252. 



This, like most of the straight-billed Humming-birds, is a native of Columbia and New Grenada; it is a 

 most interesting and attractive species, and is plentifully sent to this country from Bogota : seldom indeed 

 does a collection arrive from that part of South America which does not contain examples. M. Bourcier 

 gives the environs of Facativa, in Columbia, as one of the localities in which specimens have been procured. 

 The conspicuous white mark on the side of the chest, beautifully relieved by the black of the surrounding 

 parts, the glittering glaucous green of the shoulders, and the variegated colouring of the back, all tend 

 to render it remarkably different from its congeners. The specific name, bestowed upon this bird by 

 M, Bourcier, is intended as a compliment to Dr. Prunelle, one of the scientific celebrities of the city of 

 Lyons. 



The sexes present no marked difference in their colouring, but the female is rather less brilliant, and 

 somewhat smaller than her mate. 



General plumage dark purplish-black ; a bronzy gloss on the forehead ; a narrow mark of bluish-green on 

 the lower part of the throat ; on each side the chest a large and conspicuous patch of white ; wing-coverts 

 steel-blue with green reflexions ; wings dark purplish-brown ; tail dark velvety purplish -black ; under tail- 

 coverts fringed with white; back and upper tail-coverts, when viewed from behind a mass of colour, 

 of which language can convey no idea, being a mingling of crimson, green, purple and red, changing with 

 the direction of the rays of light, or perfectly iridescent ; bill black ; feet fleshy-brown. 



The figures are of the natural size. The plant is a portion of the Chamcedorea Ernes ti-Aagusti. 



