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Show 504 MR. J. GOULD ON SIX N E W HUMMING-BIRDS. [May 16, so anomalous is its colouring; but on further investigation I am induced to characterize it as distinct. Its nearest allies are Heliotrypha parzudaki and Heliangelus clarissee ; but it differs from both in having a more lengthened bill, in the different colouring of its under tail-coverts, and in the unusual hue of its throat. HELIOMASTER ALBICRISSA, Gould. Throat fiery reddish purple ; crown light glistening green ; upper surface and two central tail-feathers bronzy green, with the usual white mark in the centre of the back; four outer feathers on each side bronzy green, becoming nearly black towards the end, and tipped with white, the external one more largely than the others; wings purplish brown; chest grey; flanks bronzy grey; centre of the abdomen white ; bill black. Total length 4^ inches; bill If, wing If, tail 1*£, tarsi |. Hab. Citado in Ecuador. Remark. Notwithstanding the uncertainty as to whether Heliomaster longirotris, H. stuartee, H. sclateri, and H. pallidiceps are all one or so many distinct species, I feel that I have no alternative but to add to the confusion, if confusion there is, by giving the above description of a bird of the same form lately sent by Mr. Buckley from Citado in Eucador. Its size is about the same as that of H. longirostris and its near allies; but it differs from them all in having a still larger and longer bill and a much redder throat-mark, in the white spot on the external tail-feather being longer or larger, in the lower part of the abdomen being white; in the under tail-coverts being greyish white, instead of blackish green, with lighter edges, and in the glittering feathers of the crown being of as pale, or nearly as pale a green as in the H. pallidiceps of Mexico. As the peculiar markings of the tail and the under tail-coverts do not occur in H. longirostris of Trinidad and some parts of Venezuela, nor in the H. sclateri of Costa Rica, I am induced to regard the present bird as new. LESBIA CHLORURA, Gould. Crown of the head and all the upper surface golden green; gorget glittering green, round and well-defined as in L. gouldi; abdomen mottled green and buff, its lower portion and the under tail-coverts pure buff ; wings purplish brown ; the eight central tail-feathers entirely light green, the external one on each side olive, finely powdered and tipped with green, and having the outer web buff for more than half its length from the base. Total length 6| inches ; bill T 9^, wing 2, tail 5|. This species has all the characteristics of elegance; indeed a more graceful little creature can scarcely be conceived. It is very nearly allied to Lesbia gouldi and L. gracilis, but differs from both in having a more lengthened, straighter, and greener tail, and is more especially distinguished by having a much longer and stouter bill than either of them. Its native country is supposed to be Peru. The specimen described has been in m y possession for a length of |
