ERIOCNEMIS DYSELIUS, Jsao<. 



Black-vented Puff-le"-. 



Eriocnemis dyselius, Elliot, Ibis, 1872, p. 294.— Sclater & Salv. Nomencl Av. Neotr. p. 91 

 (1873).— Mulsant, Nat. Hist. Oiseaux-Mouches, iii. p, 50 (1876).— Elliot, 

 Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 194 (1878). 



This species is unknown to me ; but the type is in Mr. Elliot's collection. It is supposed to have come from 

 Ecuador; but Mr. Elliot does not state from whom he received the specimen. It belongs to the section of 

 the genus in which the downy puffs on the tarsi are white, and it differs from all the allied species in having 

 the under tail-coverts purplish black instead of grey, green, or shining blue. 



Mr. Elliot writes : — " Among the many groups that comprise the great family of the Trochilidse, there 

 are few more strongly characterized than that oi Eriocnemis ^ from the fact that all its members are possessed 

 of very conspicuous tufts of various colours, viz. white, black, brown, or brown and white, which cover the 

 tarsi, and from which the sj)ecies have obtained the trivial name of ' Puff-leg.' 



" Four specimens, precisely alike, were, as I was informed, contained in the small collection of birds 

 from which my example was taken ; and although no locality was given, it is supposed that Ecuador is the 

 habitat of the species. I propose to call it, from its sombre plumage, Eriocnemis dyselius'' 



The following is a copy of Mr. Elliot's original description : — 



'* Head, and entire upper parts, black with a purplish gloss; upper tail-coverts having a very dark 

 greenish gloss ; throat aud underparts black, but not of so deep a shade as the upper parts, purplish on the 

 abdomen ; wings purplish black ; tarsi thickly covered with pure white downy feathers ; under tail-coverts 

 purplish black; tail rather deeply forked, steel-blue, with purple reflections; the bill is perfectly straight 

 and rather slender. Total length 4 inches, wing 2i, tail li, bill I." 



ERIOCNEMIS CHRYSORAMA, £//fo<, 



Blue-vented Puff-leg', 



Eriocnemis clirysovama, Elliot, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) xiii. p. 375 (1874). — Mulsant 

 Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, iii. p. 44 (1876). — Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming- 

 Birds, p. 193 (1878). 



The present species is from Ecuador, and is, as far as I know, only represented in collections by the single 

 typical specimen in the possession of Mr. Elliot. It belongs to the section of the genus Eriocnemis with 

 white puffs on the legs, and is distinguished further by its metallic yellowish-green throat, its general copper- 

 coloured plumage, steel-blue tail, and shining blue under tail-coverts. 



The following description is taken from Mr. Elliot's ' Synopsis :' — 



" Upper and lower surfaces metaUic fiery copper-colour ; chin and throat metallic yellowish-green, golden 

 yellow in some lights ; upper tail-coverts luminous yellowish green ; under tail-coverts white on their basal 

 half, rest blue; wings purplish brown; tail much forked, steel-black; tarsal tufts pure white; bill black. 

 Total length 4i inches, wing 2i, tail If, bill I 



7 J» 



