Ptochoptera iolæma

Only a single specimen of this species has as yet been discovered, which is now in the Vienna Museum.

It was found by the celebrated traveller Natterer, at Maribatanas, on the banks of the Rio Negro.

Mr. Elliot, who bas seen the type, describes it as a small bird of rather plain plumage, but with a brilliant throat, and he has placed it in the vicinity of the genus Smaragdochrysis in his ‘Synopsis.’

The following is the description of the male given by Mr. Elliot in the above-mentioned work:—

Top of head and nape dull dark green; entire upper parts grass-green, only slightly metallic. The tail-coverts are of a lighter green than the back, and reach to the fork of the tail. Throat pale metallic grass-green. Rest of underparts pale smoky brown, with some of the flank-feathers tipped with grass-green. Under tail-coverts long, of the same colour as the abdomen, with a slight metallic greenish lustre on the centre of the feathers. Tail long, deeply forked, dark purplish brown, the feathers very narrow. Wings purplish brown. Bill and feet black. Total length 4\(\frac{3}{8}\) inches, wing 1\(\frac{5}{8}\), tail 2, bill along gape \(\frac{3}{4}\).

[R. B. S.]

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