lator, we

- Pl. 184,

the large

PL. 185.

Pl. 186,

PS 7.

ISS

Pl. 189.

plate of

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}. 190.

INTRODUCTION. Ixxvii

It will have been observed that each of the foregoing groups is characterized by certain peculiarities, and that
one feature is more prominent than the others in each of the different forms : in some the back, and back only, is
lit up with luminous colours ; in others the throat is the only part thus adorned; in another (the Pterophanes) the
wings alone are lustrous. The group which stands next on my list of genera and species have their share of orna-
ment disposed on their broad and ample tails: in nearly every species this organ is illumined with brilliantly
shining colours—some blue, others purple, and others, again, bronze; in some these glittering hues appear on both
the upper and under surface, while in others it is either confined to or is most brilliant on the latter. These colours,
I am sure, the bird has the power of displaying to the greatest advantage, in order to render himself as attractive
as may be when desirous of pleasing the female, perhaps, like the Peacock, for the purpose of his own vainglory.
These varied beauties serve to increase our admiration of Nature’s works ; at least such is the feeling they create

in my own breast.

Genus Meratuura, Gould.

(Meraddov, metallum, et ovpa, cauda. )
Generic characters.

Male.— Bill straight and of moderate length ; wings moderate ; tail rather large and rounded; tarsi bare; Seet
rather large ; hind toe and nail as long or longer than the middle toe and nail; throat and under surface of the tail
luminous, like shining metal.

Female.—Much less brilliant than the male, and in most of the species destitute of the luminous throat-mark.

All the members of this genus are tenants of the Andes, and by far the greater portion of them of Bolivia and
Peru; one species, however (the M. tyrianthina), ranges over the whole of the temperate portions of New Granada.
I now proceed to arrange the species according to their affinities, commencing with the largest and most gorgeously

coloured.

215. Merayura cupreicaupa, Gould \ : : : : : ‘ ; : Vol. III. Pl. 191.

Trochilus (Lampornis) opaca, ‘‘ Licht.’ Tschudi, Consp. pp. 38, 210; Id. Faun. Peru. p. 248, 13.
Metallura opaca, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 69.

Habitat. Bolivia.

216. MreraLtura #NEICAUDA, Gould : i : : : ‘ : : ; , Vol. III. Pl. 192.
Urolampra aeneicauda, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 68.
Habitat. Bolivia.

217. Merattura WiLuiaMi . : : 5 ; : : Vol. IIT. Pl. 193.
Urolampra Williami, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 68, note.
Habitat. Popayan.

218. Merauuura Primoun, Bonap.  . : ; 5 : : 3 : . ‘ 5 Vol. III. Pl. 194.
Habitat. Peru.

219. METALLURA TYRIANTHINA : ; : : , ‘ : : : ‘ Vol. III. Pl. 195.
Urolampra tyrianthina, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p- 68.
Habitat. New Granada.

In my account of Metallura tyrianthina, I have given that bird a very wide range of habitat, extending from the
Gulf of Darien to Ecuador; but having since had ample opportunities for examining numerous specimens from
every locality, I find that the birds from Ecuador are so much larger than those from Bogota that I cannot do
otherwise than regard them as distinct. In examples from the two localities mentioned, there is a difference of more
than half an inch in the length of their wings, and fully an eighth in the length of their bills; I observe also that
the small birds from Bogota are much more richly coloured than the larger ones from Ecuador ; the throat is of
a more beautiful green, the abdomen much darker, and the reddish-purple of the tail more resplendent ; believing
the Ecuadorian bird to be distinct, I have no alternative but to give it a name, and I therefore propose for it that

of Quitensis :—

220. Merauiura Quitensis, Gould.
Habitat. Ecuador.