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INTRODUCTION.

Genus Sreiiuta, Gould.
(dim. of Stella.)
Generic characters.
Male.—Bill longer than the head, straight and pointed ;

tail short and truncate ; feet small; claws diminutive and curved.
r to indicate that it should be associated with the members of

wings moderately long and sickle-shaped ; first pri-

mary rigid ;
The starry throat-mark of this bird would appea

the next genus, Calothorar; but on an examination of the tail we find it to be short and truncate, and that con-

sequently the bird is of a very different form.

At present but one species of this form has been discovered ;
s is shown by specimens having been sent to me from

and this ranges very far north, not only over

the high lands of Mexico, but even enters California, a
thence by Dr. Baird of Washington, and Mr. Bridges of California.

161. STELLULA CALLIOPE.
Calothorax Calliope, Gould . ‘ : : ;
Habitat. The table lands of Northern Mexico and California.

Vol) Tit Pr a3,

The type of the
Genus Catornorax, G. R. Gray,

is the well-known Mexican Star, C. cyanopogon, which, together with the new species discovered by M. Sallé, and
named by me C. pulcher, are all that are known of this peculiar form. Both these birds are natives of Mexico—
one inhabiting the table lands, the other the more southern and hotter districts. Both have very singularly formed
tails—the outer feather being shorter than the next, and the four central ones so abbreviated as to be almost hidden
by the coverts. When the males display their luminous gorgets, they must appear truly beautiful. The females

possess none of this fine colouring, but, on the contrary, are very plainly attired.

162. CALOTHORAX CYANOPOGON . : : : : : ; : : ; : .~ Vol. TIP Bias
Trochilus cyanopogon, Swains. Birds of Brazil, pl. 77.
coruscus, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mexican. Thier. v. Deppe & Schiede (Sept. 1830) No. 34, 35.
Habitat. The table land of Northern Mexico.

163. CALOTHORAX PULCHER, Gould : : : : ; ; ‘ : : : Vol. III. Pl. 144

Habitat. Oaxaca in Southern Mexico.

It has always appeared to me that the well-known Calothorax Mulsanti and C. Heliodori might very properly
be separated into a distinct genus; and this I have accordingly done. With these must be aasociited the species
to which I have given the name of C. decoratus, and, I think, the singular little C. micrurus. They are all from the
Andes, and are among the most diminutive of the Trochilide. Their structure would lead one to eusent that their

wi os nO 4 Tar . 7 7 +

vings are capable of very rapid motion, that organ being so small that it must be moved with increased rapidity
. . . : | ’ ‘

to enable the bird to sustain itself when poising before a flower

Genus Acesrrura, Gould.

(akeorpa, acus, et odpa, cauda.)
Generic characters.

Male.— Bi , : ieee
ale— Bill longer than the head, cylindrical, and very slightly arched; two centre tail-feathers extremely

small, the two outer ones fil
: ‘S Hlamentous and shorter than tl | ! imi
‘ he third; wings diminuti L
: utive; tars 3 feel s ’
eee 5 wing tive; tarsi clothed; feet small;

Female—Unadorned.

164. AcEsTRURA MuLtsanrTt.

Calothorax Mulsanti i :
Lucifer Mulsanti, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p- 10 a
Trochilus filicaudus, Licht. in Mus. Berol.

Chaetocercus Mulsanti. Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii p- 60
| - . - OU.

Habitat. The temperate regions of the Andes, from Bogota to Quit
os ? ; g uto.

I observe that specimens from the former loc

. ality are smaller ae ee
this bird at Pallatanga and Puell Se nen iose from the latter. Mr. Fraser found

aro in Ecuador.