LAMPORNIS VERAGU EK NSIS, Goud.
V eraguan Mango.
Lampornis Veraquensis, Gould, MSS.

Lampornis veraquensis, Bonap. Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250

Sericotes veragquensis, Reichenb, Autz. der Colibris, p- :7.

 

Severat years have now elapsed since I received both drawings and specimens of this new Humming-bird

from M. Warszewicz, the celebrated South American traveller and botanist. The specimens referred to
subsequently I received examples from Costa Rica,
and more recently still from the vicinity of David, transmitted by Mr. Bridges

were collected near the volcano of Chiriqui in Veragua ;

: nothing can be more certain,
therefore, than that the countries immediately to the northward of the Isthmus of |

’anama are the native
habitat of this bird.

Asa species, the Lampornis Veraguensis is as well marked as any member of the genus ;
it possesses a combination of characters which ally it to the Z. gramineus and L. Prevosti ; it differs,

how-
ever, from the former in its much smaller size, and in the brilliant green of the thro

at being continued over
the chest to the abdomen; and from the Z. Prevosti, which it about equals in size, by the total absence of

black on the throat. I am so fortunate as to possess males, females and young males of this fine species,

which may be thus described.

The male has all the upper surface, wing-coverts and flanks golden green ; throat glittering green, inclined

to blue in the centre, and becoming of a deeper blue on the chest and centre of the abdomen : wings purplish
brown ; tail purple, each feather narrowly edged and tipped with darker purple, the two centre feathers
tinged with bronze; tuft on each flank white.

The young male is similar on the upper surface ; has the throat-mark less brilliant and bordered with
white ; the centre tail-feathers bronzy green; the lateral feathers purple at the base, crossed near the tip
with steel-blue and tipped with white.

The female is of a more golden hue above and on the flanks ; has a mark of blackish green bordered with
white down the throat and the lateral tail-feathers as in the young male,

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Pitcairnia macrocalyx.

 

 

 

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