1922.] TRINIDAD BIRDS. 159 



52. {Anthoscenus longirostris Vieill.) Carmine Throat or 



Star Throat. 

 Melhsuga longirostris. Leotaud No. 75. 



This species I have not seen, nor can I find any reference to 

 its nesting habits. 



In the male the whole of the back is dark bronzy green. The 

 crown steel-blue and the throat bright ruby red. The breast, sides 

 of abdomen, and mid-abdomen green and the rest of the abdomen 

 white. Wing quills dark brown. Outer tail feathers black with a 

 white spot at the tip. Under tail coverts green edged with white.. 

 Under wing coverts green. 



The female is brighter green above, but has no blue on the 

 crown or red on the throat, and is grey beneath. 



The bill in both sexes is very long and straight. 

 Leotaud says the species is not common. Hellm.ayr obtained 

 one at Caparo. 



53. Agyrtria cbionopectus, Gould. White Breast. 

 Polytmus cbionopectus. Leotaud No. 71. 



The male is green above and white beneath, with scattered green 

 spots on breast and flancs. The tail is coppery-bronze, black 

 towards the end with narrow whitish tip. 



The female resembles the male. 

 • The bill is straight and shorter than the preceding species 

 (less than half the length of the wing). 



On January 28, 1921 I shot two specimens in the Maracas 

 Valley. The first was 110 mm. in total length, and had no white 

 edging to tail. In the second the white edging to tail was quite 

 distinct. The stomach of one of these contained several small flies 

 and beetles and one spider. 



Several other specimens v/ere seen. Some catching insects 

 over the river and others visiting the flowers of Inga sp. 



I did not find the nest of this species, but Chapman (I.e.) says 

 " A nest found on March 3, was about twelve feet from ground 

 saddled on a small twig near the end. Only one bird, apparently 

 the female, was ever seen near the nest. She apparently began to 

 sit about March 5. I did not learn at what date the one young bird 

 was hatched but it left the nest April 10." 



There are three species of " Emerald " in Trinidad which are 

 difficult to separate. In all the predominant colour is various shades 

 of metallic green above and beneath. All are rather small with 

 comparatively short straight bills. 



