ERIOCNEMIS SIMPLEX, Gould. 



Olive-coloured Puff-leg- 



Eriopus simplex, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, 1849, p. 96 



The single specimen of this bird forming part of the collection of Edward Wilson, Esq., is the only one that 

 has yet been sent to Europe. It was received direct from Santa Fe de Bogota, accompanied by other new 

 and rare species, which induces a belief that it had been procured in some district not previously visited by 

 collectors. Mr. Wilson, with his usual liberality, kindly lent me the specimen for the purpose of describing 

 and figuring it, if requisite. During the three years it has been in my possession, I have frequently 

 examined and carefully compared it with Eriocnemis cuprewentris, under the impression that it might 

 possibly be merely a singular variety of that bird, but I have always returned to my original opinion, that it 

 is a distinct species, and have therefore figured it as such on the accompanying Plate. 



The colouring of the entire body is a nearly uniform dark olive-green, with a rufous tinge on the 

 upper surface ; the crown of the head and back of the neck tinted with purple ; the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts a very little brighter than the back ; on the throat, a patch of scale-like feathers of a more glossy 

 green than the other part of the under surface ; wings purplish brown ; tail black with purplish reflexions ; 

 thighs and tarsi thickly clothed with snow-white plumes, presenting a strong contrast to the dark colouring 

 of the body ; under tail-coverts dull bluish purple ; bill and feet black. 



The figures are of the natural size; the Cactus is a species common on the Columbian Andes. 



