HELIODOXA XANTHOGONYS, Sahin S^ Godman. 



Guiana Brilliant. 



Heliodoxa aianthogonys, Salvin & Godman, Ibis, 1882, p. 80. — Salvin, Ibis, 1885, p. 433 

 Xanthogenyx salvini, De Hamonville, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, viii. p. 77 (1883). 



The present species was also one of Mr, Whitely's discoveries in British Guiana. He met with it hoth on 

 the Merume Mountains and near Roraima at a height of 3500 feet. Messrs. Salvin and Godman state that 

 it is "allied to H.jamesom from Ecuador, but is smaller, with a less forked tail, and is also distinguished by 

 its orange-coloured mandible." They observe (/. c.)' " Mr. Whitely sends us a male and several females 

 of this species, which is obviously allied to the Ecuadorian H. jamesoni, but at the same time quite 

 specifically distinct. This is the first evidence we have received of the feet of a member of this Andean 

 genus being found in Guiana." 



Mr. Whitely has sent us the following account of his capture of the species on the Merume Mountains : 



'' This beautiful bird was obtained in the same locality as Lophornis pawninus, but, unlike that species, it 

 is of more retiring habits, frequenting the gloomy recesses of the forest, where it suddenly startles one by its 

 rapid flights, and then coming to a stop, throwing the body up vertically within a few yards of one's face, 

 making a very loud humming with its wings. It then darts off out of sight like a flash, rendering it a most 

 difficult bird to shoot. Only one male was obtained here, and several females ; but I was fortunate enough 

 to get two males on n)y second expedition to Roraima, at an elevation of 5000 feet. Stomach contained 

 remains of insects." 



The Plate represents two males and a female, the figures being drawn from specimens lent to us by 

 Messrs. Salvin and Godman. 



[R. B. S.] 



