THALTJEANIA.— MICROCHEEA. 267 



Costa Eica (Endres), Tucurriqui (Arce "', Zeledon «), Angostura {Carmiol i^), Naranjo 

 de Cartago, Jimenez {Zeledon^); Panama, Volcan de Chiiiqui {Warszewiez^, 

 Arce), Boquete de Chitra ^^ Chitra ^^ Castillo, Laguna, Santiago de Veraguas^^ 

 Calovevora ^^, Santa Fe ^\ Line of Eailway [Arce), Lion Hill {M'Leannan ^^ ^% 

 Paraiso (Hughes '^). — Colombia^ ^ and Venezuela ''. 



The original specimens of this species, as its name implies, came from Colombia ^ ; 

 and we now know it as one of the very common species of that country, large numbers 

 of specimens being sent from time to time in the trade collections made in the vicinity 

 of Bogota. 



T. venusta was described by Gould from specimens sent him by Warszewiez ^ from 

 Chiriqui, and it was stated to differ from T. colombica by the greater extent of the 

 violet-blue colouring on the shoulders and back, that colour occupying in adult birds 

 the whole of the interscapular region. As a rule, northern birds, i. e. those found at 

 Panama and thence northwards to Nicaragua, have more blue in this portion of the 

 plumage than southern ones, but it is certainly a variable character and at most only 

 seen in older birds. As the bird is an inhabitant of the lowlands, and as it is very 

 improbable that any line of demarkation divides the two forms, we think it best to 

 keep them together under one specific name. 



T. colombica is not uncommon on the line of the Panama Eailway, whence M'Leannan 

 sent us several specimens ^^. We have also received many others from various parts 

 of the State of Panama, and also from Costa Eica. 



Belt's collection, too, made at Chontales in Nicaragua, contained several specimens in 

 very perfect plumage ^^ ; and we have lately received others from the same country 

 from Mr. W. B. Eichardson. 



[Note. — Thalurania lucioe, described by Mr. Lawrence from a specimen said to have 

 been obtained by Xantus on one of the Tres Marias Islands, now proves, accordiug to 

 Count Berlepsch, to be T. glaucopis of Brazil, an error having been made as to its 

 origin.] 



d*. Cauda plus minusve rotundata. 



a^. Bostrum fere rectum, rectrices laterales ad basin albas. 



a^. Pileus niveus, plumce supra tegulas nasales extensw. 



MICEOCHEEA. 



Microchera, Gould, Mon. Troch. ii. t. 116 (Sept. 1858) ; Salv. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 66. 



This genus was established by Gould in 1858 upon the wonderful little bird 

 described by Mr. Lawrence some years previously as Mellisvga albocorcnata. A second 



34* 



