OXYPOGON CYANOL^MUS, s«& ct Godm 



Blue-throated Helmet-crest. 



Oxypogon cyanola^mus, O. Salvin & F. D. Godman, Ibis, 1880, p. 172, pi. iv. fig. 2. 



This may be considered one of the finest of the Hurnming-birds described since the conclusion of my 

 * Monograph,' and it forms an interesting addition to the genus Omjpogon. It was found by Mr. Simons on 

 the 18th and 19th of July 1879, on the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, in Colombia, at an altitude of from 

 10,000 to 14,000 feet above the sea. 



Messrs. Salvin and Godman remark that the present bird is like Omjpogon guermi, but may be 

 distinguished at a glance by the long plumes of the throat being blue instead of green, and by its having the 

 inner web of the lateral tail-feathers entirely creamy-white except at the tips. They write: — " The species 

 is perfectly distinct from 0, guerini of the high mountain-ranges of Colombia, and also from 0, llndem from 

 the high lands of Merida. Besides other differences, the colouring of the middle of the throat at once 

 distinguishes these beautiful birds, that of 0. Undent being white, of 0. guerim green, and of our new 

 species blue. In having a large amount of white in the tail, 0. cyanol(Bmus approaches more nearly 



0. guerini'' 



The following is a translation of the original description given by Messrs. Salvin and Godman : — " Above 

 dull green, the sides of the neck and the nape white, the whole of the head black, washed with green ; an 

 elongated black crest, with a central streak of white, divided into two towards the nostrils; underneath 

 whitish, the middle of the throat ornamented with elongated blue plumes^ the sides of the body spotted with 

 dull green ; tall bronzy-green, the three outer tail-feathers on each side creamy white excepting the tips 

 and the outer web (the outermost excepted). 



"The female is similar to the male, but the head uniform with the back, the elongated crest and blue 

 throat being absent ; bill and feet black. Total length 4'5 inches, wing 2*7, outer tail-feather 3*2, centre 

 tail-feather 2'9, bill from gape 0*6." 



The figures in the Plate are drawn from the typical specimens lent to me by Messrs, Salvin and Godman, 

 and represent two adult males and a female. 



