UROSTICTE BENJAMINI. 



White-tip. 



Trochilus Benjamini Bourc. Compt. Rend, de FAcad. des Sci., torn, xxxii. p. 187. 



This beautiful species, one of the late discoveries in this lovely tribe of birds, differs in so many parti- 

 culars from every other member of the family, that I have been constrained to give it a new generic title, 

 and have selected that of Urostkte as indicative of the conspicuous white terminations of the four central 

 tail-feathers ; in nearly every other instance it is the outer feathers that are thus marked, and not the central 

 ones, and it is the circumstance of the latter being thus decorated in the present bird which renders it so 

 remarkable. 



For a knowledge of this fine bird we are indebted to M. Bourcier, who discovered it during his resi- 

 dence in Ecuador as the French Consul General for that Republic ; and who has named it Benjammi, after 

 the eldest son of Mr, Leadbeater, a name so well known to all naturalists. M. Bourcier states that 

 it inhabits the warm regions in the environs of Gualea; and I have received several examples from Quito, 

 through the hands of Professor Jameson, who procured them on the western side of Pichincha. 



The sexes offer a marked difference, as will be seen by the following descriptions : — 



The male has the general plumage of the body, both on the upper and under surfaces, green ; behind the 

 eye a conspicuous projecting tuft of white ; throat luminous green, below which is a gorget-shaped mark of 

 deep reddish violet ; wings dark purplish brown ; tail bronzy purple, the four central feathers largely tipped 

 with white ; bill black ; feet brown. 



The female has the upper surface green, inclining to bronze on the head ; the white tufts behind the eye 

 less conspicuous ; all but the two central tail-feathers tipped with white, and the throat and abdomen white, 

 with a spangle of shining green at the tip of each feather. 



The young male is dark bronzy green above, dark green below; has the throat rufous, and the four 

 central feathers with an oblong patch of white near the tip. 



The Plate represents two males, a young male and a female of the natural size, on a species oi Sedum, 

 grown by Sir William Jardine, Bart., at Jardine Hall, from seeds sent to him by Professor Jameson of 

 Quito. 



