DIPHLOG^NA HESPERUS, Gould. 



Ecuadorean Rainbow. 



Diphlog^BTia hesperus, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) xv. p. 129 (1865).— Scl. & Salv. 

 Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 90 (1873).— Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, ii. 

 p. 304, plate (1875).— Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 70 (1878).— 

 Berlepsch & Tacz. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1884, p. 303. 



This species represents in Ecuador the Diphlogcena iris of Bolivia. It is of the same size as that bird, but 

 has the back and abdomen green instead of chestnut-red. 



So far as is known, the present species is confined to the Andes of Ecuador. The original specimen came 

 from the province of Cuenga ; and Messrs. Von Berlepsch and Taczanowski have recorded a large series as 

 having been procured by Messrs. Stolzmann and Siemiradski in Western Ecuador at Cechce and Alpachaca, 

 at an altitude of 10,500 feet, in the months of April and May. They write as follows : — '* The female differs 

 from the male in a manner analogous to that of the allied species. The feathers of the crown are short, 

 less glittering, and they form a scaly surface of a coloration similar to that of the male, but distinctly less 

 brilliant and almost uniform from the forehead to the nape ; that is to say, it is more rufous on the latter 

 part than in the male. The median blue streak is clearer and not of a sapphire tint, being nearly as large as 

 in the male and not passing beyond the posterior angle of the eye ; it lacks therefore the broad portion on the 

 neck which is peculiar to the other sex ; under other lights the blue passes into violet. The green of the 

 under surface of the body is distinctly clearer than in the male, but is quite as lustrous, and even more so on 

 the abdomen ; the bases of all the feathers are clearer in the male, and in consequence all the underparts 

 appear to be more distinctly scaled ; there is no trace of the spangle on the throat, and the bronze on the back 

 is less uniform, passing into green on the sides : in other respects the female is like the male. The immature 

 males are distinguished by the crown being entirely covered with as short feathers as those of the female, 

 and of a dull coppery bronze with a feeble but not glittering metallic lustre, which is slightly developed in 

 front of the eyes under occasional aspects of light ; otherwise they are like the old males, some of them 

 having the violet spangle as well developed as in the latter, while others do not show it at all. One male 

 has the top of the head fully and brilliantly plumaged, but still lacks the jugular spangle, which is only 

 represented by a single feather partly green and partly violet." 



The following is the original description transcribed from the ' Annals ' (/. c.) : — 



'' 3/ak. Crowri of the head brilliant, changeable, metallic blue and fiery red, the latter colour occupying 

 the sides of the forehead, and the former running up the centre from tlie base of the bill to the crown, where 

 it dilates into a broad patch ; hinder part of the head and the nape changeable brown and bronze ; back 

 (as far as the rump, shoulders, abdomen, and flanks) green ; throat and chest rich metallic golden green, 

 with a small spot of violet in the centre of the former; primaries and secoiidaries rust-brown, with darker 

 tips; upper and under tail-coverts and the forked tail deep cinnamon-red, the feathers of the latter tipj)ed 

 and edged near the extremities with broirzy green; thighs bufll'; bill straight, long, tubular, and black- 

 f^et brown. Total length oi inches, bill H, wing 31, tail Si." 



In the Plate are given representations of two adult males and a female, drawn from specimens lent to us by 

 Messrs. Salvin and Godman. 



[R. B. S.] 



