HELIOTRYPHA BARRALI, Muh.^Verr 



Olive-throated Humming'-bird. 



Heliotrypha barrali, Mulsant et Verreaux, Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, xvii. p. 108 (1868) 



Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 88 (1878). 

 Heliangelus squamigularis^ Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 503. 

 Nodalia barrali, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, iii. p. 100 (1877). 



The specimen which we described as Heliangelus squamigulark struck us at the time as being very peculiar, 

 and we mentioned that it appeared to be allied to Heliotrypha parzudakii and Heliangelus clarissce. 

 Mr. D. G. Elliot, in his ' Synopsis/ places it at the end of the genus Heliotrijpha and just before the genus 

 Heliangelm, showing that our position for the species was not badly chosen, though Mr. Elliot places it in 

 the genus Heliotrypha^ and in this he is no doubt right. 



The four species oi Heliotrypha differ from each other in the colour of the throat, and this in the present 

 bird is most peculiar, being well described by Mr. Elliot as of a " pale metallic olive-green " colour. Its 

 habitat is the province of Antioquia, in the United States of Colombia. 



The following is Mr. Elliot's description of the type, which is in his collection : — 



''Adult male. Top of head very dark green, ahnost black in certain lights. Throat pale metallic olive- 

 green, silvery in some lights, margined with a line of black. Rest of plumage of body shining grass-green, 

 most brilliant on the breast. Wings purplish brown. Median rectrices hronzy green ; lateral ones blue-black. 

 Under tail-coverts green in the centre, the remaining parts greyish white. Bill black. Total length 

 41 inches, wing 2^, tail If, culmen f." 



The Plate represents a male bird in two positions, and is drawn from the sj)ecimen in the Gould 



collection. 



[R. B. S.] 



