EUCEPHALA SCAPULATA, Gould. 



Black-bellied Sapphire. 



Eucephala scapulata, Gould, Intr. Trochil. 8vo, p. 166 (1861).— Sclater & Salv. NomencL 

 Av. Neotr. p. 93 (1875).— Muls. Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouclies, ii. p. 34 (1875). 

 — Elliot, Ibis, 1874, p. 88; id. Synopsis of the liumming-Birds, p. 229 (1878). 

 — Eudes-Deslongchamps, Annuaire Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 456 (1881). 



Hylocharis scapulata, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 148, no. 1914 (1869). 



The type of the present species still remains in my collection, and is apparently the only one yet known. 

 It belongs to the green-headed section of the genus Eucephala, has the throat and chest blue, and is further 

 distinguished by having the under tall-coverts brown with blue centres, and the abdomen brownish black. 



The locality of Eucephala scapulata is supposed to be Cayenne ; but I have no certain information on this 

 point. 



The following is a copy of my original description : — 



"Crown of the head, back of the neck, and lower part of the back very deep dull green; throat and 

 chest glittering greenish blue, imperceptibly passing into the dull brownish black of the abdomen ; under 

 tail-coverts brown, with a wash of dull blue in the centre of each feather, a mark of blue on each side at 

 the insertion of the wing, forming an indistinct band across the back ; upper tail-coverts bronzy green ; tail 

 steely black, rather short for the size of the bird, and slightly forked ; wings deep purplish brown ; tarsi 

 clothed with intermingled greyish-white and brown feathers ; u|)per mandible black ; basal half of the under 

 mandible fleshy, the apical half black." Total length 3| inches, bill i, wing 2A, tail 1|. 



