OREOPYRA LEUCASPIS, Gould.

White-throated Oreopyra.

Oreopyra leucasprs, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe., part xxvii. p. 312.

Wirn what activity and perseverance the South American traveller, Warszewicz, scaled the sides of the
WICZ, sides

ded, the curious and interesting Humming-Bird
mule delayed describing this new bird for several years
after it came into 2 ossess10n, in the hope os additional examples might arrive; but up to the present
month of March oe!) I ene oul seen the single individual from which my figure is taken, and which
graces my own collection. This unique example is, I am Sorry to say, in a very bad
it is evidently a mature male, which, when shot, was in all the splendour of a fr

yolcano of Chiriqui, and how well his exertions were rewar
represented on the accompanying Plate will testify. I

state of preservation ;
esh moult; but so woefully

ler these circumstances, it is much to
be desired that some other traveller should procure us additional examples, and transmit at the

is it mutilated, that I am scarcely able to figure it with accuracy. Unc
same time
an account of its habits, and not omit to inform us if the sexes offer any marked differences in their style
of colouring. I am particularly desirous of information on this latter point, because I have for some years
entertained a suspicion that the birds I have mentioned in my account of Adelomyia castaneoventris may be
related to the present bird,

 

a point which further research alone can enable us to determine.

The Oreopyra leucaspis differs from every other member of the family in the beautiful silvery whiteness of
its throat, relieved by the surrounding black and green of the body and the glittering grass-green of
the crown; I have therefore made it the type of a new genus. It is as elegant in all its proportions as
in its colouring it is chaste and harmonious ; consequently, when better known, it will doubtless become
a great favourite with collectors.

The volcano of Chiriqui is situated in Costa Rica, a region evidently teeming with objects of beauty and
novelty: it was here, at an elevation of from nine to ten thousand feet, that M. Warszewicz shot the bird,
and immediately transmitted to me a drawing of it in a letter; and I offer my best thanks to this gentleman
for his kind attention.

Crown of the head exceedingly beautiful glittering grass-green ; back of the neck and all the upper
surface deep grass-green with bronzy reflexions; throat pure ae contrasting conspicuously inl
glittering grass-green of the breast; flanks and abdomen greyish green with bronzy ee aes
purplish brown ; tail forked and steel-black ; thighs thickly dloted with pony or greyish ae a
behind the eye, and extending some distance down the sides of the neck, is a stripe of pure white ; bi
straight, and both mandibles of a uniform black.

The figures are of the natural size. ‘The plant is the Pachyphytum bracteosum.

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