CATHARMA ORTHURA 



Lesson's Flame-bearer. 



Ornismyia orthura, Lesson, Hist. Nat. Trochilid. pp. 86, 88, pis. 28, 29 (1831). 

 Trochilus orthurus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibri, p. 12 (1853). — Trocliil. Enum. p. 10 (1855) 

 Tryphcena orthura, Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 257. 



Catharma orthura, Elliot, Ibis, 1876, p. 400. — Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Moucbes, iv 

 p. m (1877).— Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 112 (1878). 



This species remained in obscurity till the year 1876, when Mr. Elliot, having acquired the types for his 

 collection, identified it as a perfectly distinct form of Humming-bird, and made it the type of a new genus, 

 having the form of an Atthis but the plumage of a Calliphlox, His remarks on the species in * The Ibis ' 

 must be consulted by anyone wishing to understand the history of the species. 



The following is Mr. Elliot's account of the typical specimens in his collection : — 



•' Adult male. Entire upper parts dark shining grass-green. Behind the eye a small white spot. Throat 

 metallic amethystine red, rather dull, beneath which is a band of greyish w^hite extending up the sides of 

 the neck ; rest of underparts grey, tinged witli green, lightest in the centre of the abdomen. Median 

 rectrices bronze-green, lateral ones green at base, rest black, with a faint indication of white at the tip. 

 Wings purplish brown. Bill black. Total length 21 inches, wing If, tail I, culmen f. 



*' You7}g male. Above golden green. Throat white, spotted with metallic red, and bounded beneath with a 

 band of green, followed by another of white. Underparts deep buff, washed with green in lower part of 

 breast. Middle rectrices bronze-green, lateral ones green at base, rest black, tipped with white. 



''''Adult female. Above dark green. Ear-coverts, cheeks, and a line around lower part of the throat 

 blackish broun. Throat white, spotted with brown. A band of white across the breast, beneath which is 

 another of dark brown. Rest of underparts rufous. Central rectrices bronze-green, lateral ones bronze- 

 green, with an apical black band. Under tail-coverts pale bronze-green, margined with grey. Wings 

 purple. Bill and feet black. Dimensions as in the male." 



[R. B. S] 



