ERIOCNEMIS AURELI.E. 



Aurelia's Puff-leg*. 



Trochilus Aurelue, Bourc. et Muls. Ann. de la Soc. des Sci. &c. de Lyon, 1846, p. 315, pi. not 



numbered.— lb. Rev. ZooL 1846, p. 316. 

 Hylocharis Aurelice, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Hylocharis, sp. 8. 

 JEriopus mireliae, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 80, Eriopus, sp. 8. 

 Eriocnemys aurelia, lb. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252. 

 Eriocnemis Aureliae, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 9. 



By far the greater number of the species of this well-defined genus have the puff-like feathers clothing the 

 legs of a snowy whiteness ; in one, however, the E. Derbijanm, they are black ; and in the bird now under 

 consideration they are parti-coloured, or brown and white. 



I have seen examples of this species from various parts of the hilly districts of Columbia, over which 

 country it appears to enjoy a wide range, and where it has been killed by M. Warszewicz and other collectors. 

 Specimens from the neighbourhood of the River Napo have longer bills, and are altogether larger birds 

 than those from Bogota ; so great a similarity, however, otherwise exists between them, that, for the present, 

 I shall consider them as merely distinct races or local varieties of one and the same species. 



The Eriocnemis Amelia was first described by MM. Bourcier and Mulsant, from Bogota specimens, and 

 I also figure a bird from the same district. These gentlemen state that they have named it Aurelice in 

 honour of the wife of M. Henon, Secretary-General of the Society of Agriculture, and one of the most 

 distinguished naturalists of the City of Lyons. 



But little difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes ; the female, however, has the puff-like feathers 

 of the legs of a smaller size, and whiter or less parti-coloured than those of the male ; and the young has 

 the lower part of the abdomen white. 



Head, upper surface and wing-coverts dark bronzy green, the green hue predominating on the centre 

 of the back, and a tinge of rufous on the head; wings purplish brown; upper tail-coverts dark coppery 

 bronze ; tail dark bluish black, with a bronzy lustre at the base ; under surface bronzy green, very dark on 

 the throat, and becoming gradually paler towards the vent, where the feathers are fringed with white ; 

 feathers of the thighs pale chestnut and white ; under tail-coverts grass-green ; bill brown, paler at the base 

 of the under mandible. 



The young bird of the first year has the head and neck coppery bronze ; upper surface green ; throat 

 violaceous brown ; lower part of the abdomen white ; and the under tail-coverts grey, with a trace only of 

 the green of the adult state. 



The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Marsdenia metadata. 



