SPARGANURA GLYCERIA.

Purple-tailed Comet.

Cometes mossaz, Gould, Athen. 1853.

Cometes? glyceria, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. iii. p. 104, 1861.

Leshia glyceria, Bon. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.

Zodalhia glyceria, Muls. vol. iii. p- 250.—Elliot, Synopsis of the Trochilidee, p-. 150.
Sparganura mossai, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. 1860, Th. ii. p- 52, note.
Sparganura glyceria, Sclat. & Salv. Nomencl. pa SOy US/a.

 

Berna in possession of a female specimen of Sparganura glyceria, I think it advisable, both in the interests
of the Trochilidist and of those who study the subject less scientifically, to figure it in this Supplement, and
at the same time to associate with the drawing one of the male, back and front, which has already been
depicted in the third volume of the ‘Humming-birds.’ Had it been possible, this female would have
been figured thirty years ago.

Both Mr. Elliot, of North America, and M. Mulsant, of France, a short time ago completed Monographs
of the Humming-birds. When giving the description of this bird, they both say, in their letterpress, that
there was no female known. ‘This they would not have said had they ever seen my beautiful specimen,
which I now figure, and which has been lying beside the male for the last five or six years.

In comparing Sparganura (Humming-birds with broad tail-feathers and pointed throat-marks) with
Zodalia, the differences between the two genera are apparent. The throat-mark in the latter is rounded, and
the tail-feathers narrow; the rich purple colour of the back distinguishes the latter bird from all the species
of this great family. A glance at the plates of S. glycerta and Z. ortoni will, I think, convince any one
that the two species belong to distinct genera.

Before leaving the subject, I may state that I think it would be well for collectors to go to Popayan, or
within a hundred miles of it, if they would supply those at home with the bird they so much admire.

The colouring of the male :—Head, back of the neck, wing-coverts, back, and tail-coverts deep shining
green; wings purplish brown ; chin and throat metallic light olive-green ; sides of the neck and under
surface buff, with a spot of deep shining green at the tip of each feather; tail dark reddish purple,
passing into deep bluish green at the tip, except on the outer feathers, where the hue is so faint as to be
scarcely perceptible ; the outer feathers also have the basal three fourths of the shafts and the outer webs
buffy white, the base of the shaft paler than the web ; basal three fourths of the shaft of the next feathers
also buffy white ; under tail-coverts buff, with a brown mark in the centre near the tip.

Female. All the crown, back of the neck, and back green ; throat, centre of the belly, and under tail-
coverts buff; these minutely spotted with green; on the throat more numerous, and larger spottings on the
1 green spots on the buff which covers the under tail-coverts (at least the green is scarcely

sides, and no sucl
the brightest purple on the upper part,

perceptible) ; wings above purplish brown; tail coloured with
some of the feathers, particularly the short middle ones, tipped with green; the undersides of the plumage
precisely like those of the male ; bill brown.
Male. Total length 6 inches, tail 32, wing
Female. Total length 4s inches, tail 2, wing 23, bill =.
The Plate represents the male in two positions, and a female, of the natural size.

Habitat. Popayan.

23, bill 3, tarsi ; toes and nails longer than the tarsus.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 

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