HELIANGELUS MICRASTUR, GoM. 



Ecuadorian Star-frontlet. 



Helkmgelus mieraster, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) ix, p. 195 (1872). — Scl. & Salv. 



Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 89 (1873). 

 Ileh/miis micrastm% Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouclies, iii. p. 93 (1876). 

 Heliotri/p/ia 7nicrastur, Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 88 (1878). — ^Taczanowski, 



Proc. Zool. Soc. 1880, p. 205. 



I AM inclined to agree widi Mr. Elliot that it is better to place the present species in the genus HeUotnjpha 

 than in Heliangelus, to which I have assigned it in the present work, its strongly forked tail, and tjje absence of 

 any white band on the breast, allying it more to the members of the former genus. It has also been made 

 the type of a distinct owe, Helymus, by M. Mulsant; but, as Mr. Elliot well remarks, this was entirely 

 unnecessary, I regret that n)y Plate was lettered before I could alter the generic name to Heliotrypha. 



The genus Heliofrypha, therefore, as limited in Mr. Elliot's Synopsis, consists of four species: — H, mola^ 

 from Ecuador, with the throat metallic purplish violet ; H. exortk, from Ecuador and Colombia, with the 

 throat metallic pinkish lilac ; H. micrastar, from Ecuador, with the throat metallic flame-colour ; and H. barrali, 

 from Coloml)ia, with a pale metallic olive-green throat. 



The following is a copy of njy original note on this species : — "I have in my collection t\vo specimens of 

 this new bird, one of which is much brighter and finer than the other. They were collected in the locality 

 above mentioned, by one of Mr. Clarence Buckley's hunters. In size this species is much smaller than any 

 other member of this genus, even than HeUangelas mamrs. My specimens differ also from all of them in the 

 absence of a white or buff band across the chest, in which respect they assimilate to H. Parzudakl \~=eocortis\, 

 but not in the forked tail and other respects. I think it probable they are somewhat immature, and that, 

 beautiful as they are, fully adult examples will be still finer." 



Bill black ; on the forehead a band of glittering green ; crown of the head, all the upper surface of 

 the body, and the shoulders bronzy green ; chest and flanks of the same hue, but rather brighter ; centre of 

 the abdomen motded brown and green ; on the throat an exceedingly lustrous spot of orange-scarlet, 

 exceeding in brilliancy the colouring of the same part of any odier member of this beaudful genus yet 

 discovered; wings purplish brown; four central tail-feathers bronzy green, the remainder black; thighs 

 brown; under tail-coverts white; feet dark brown, nearly black. Total length 31 inches, bill f, wing 2i, 



tail 2^, tarsi J. 



Since the discovery of this bird by Mr. Buckley, it has been met with in the winter months by 

 Mr. Stolzmann in Northern Peru, near Cutervo, at an elevation of from 9600 to 9800 feet above the sea-level. 



Habitat, San Lucas, near Loxa, in Ecuador. 



On the Plate are represented an adult and a young male, both of which were kindly lei»t me by Messrs. 

 Salvin and Godman. 



