
















































































































56 Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trochilide. 
species, from the fact that Lesson’s bird seems to have been 
overlooked by Trochilidists, and confounded with one sent in 
great numbers to Europe from the neighbourhood of Bogota, 
and to which Lesson’s name, celigena, has been applied. But 
the truth is that the Bogota bird belongs apparently to a dis- 
tinct species, presenting many and constant characters whereby 
it differs from its Venezuelan relative, and which at all times 
render it easily to be distinguished. It may be considered 
somewhat a matter of surprise that these birds should ever 
have been confounded together; for Lesson’s figure is an un- 
usually good one, representing his species coloured in a man- 
ner not often surpassed for its fidelity. ‘To enumerate some 
of the differences which distinguish LD. ceeligena from the Bo- 
gota bird, which I have characterized in this paper as L. colum- 
biana, I may state that it is much larger, its total length 
being six inches, whereas the other is not over five inches 
and a half. L. cwligena has the top of the head, back, and 
shoulders of the wing dark coppery red, with a metallic lustre, 
while these parts in L. columbiana are brown, inclining to 
olive, being lightest onthe head. The tails of the two also are 
differently coloured, that of the Venezuelan bird being a red- 
dish bronze, while the Bogota species has it of an olive hue. 
Between the bronze feathers of the back and the metallic 
ones of the rump, when viewed from behind, there is in L. 
celigena a well-marked (indeed, conspicuous) dividing line; 
but in L. columbiana the rump-feathers blend gradually with 
those of the back, leaving no appreciable mark of division. 
The two forms seem better qualified for a specific separation 
than is usually the case in closely allied members of the Tro- 
chilide. For facility of comparison, I here give a descrip- 
tion of Lesson’s bird :— 
Upper part of head, back, and shoulders of wing dark 
coppery red, metallic in certain lights, Rump, viewed from 
behind, very brilliant metallic green, more extended than in 
the same part of L. columbiana. Throat white, central por- 
tion of feathers blackish brown. Breast dark grey. Abdo- 
men smoke-colour ; flanks reddish bronze. Wings bright 
purple. Tail dark olive, with coppery reflections. Bill 
Olona a ee is 



