484 



BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



COLIBRI CYANOTUS fBourcier and Mulsant). 



LESSER VIOLET-EAR. 



Similar to C. thalassinus , but mtlioiit blue on chest or lores. 



Adult male. — Above metallic green or bronze-green; tail more 

 bluish green (the middle rectrices usually more bronzy), crossed by 

 a broad subterminal band of blue-black; remiges dark brownish slate 

 or dusky, very faintly glossed mtli purphsh; suborbital and auricular 

 (but not loral) region rich dark metallic violet-blue; chin and throat 

 bright metallic green (varying from slightly bluish to yellowish 

 emerald green) each feather with a darker median streak or spot; 

 rest of under parts duller metalHc green, the center of chest sometimes 

 slightly tinged with bluish green; under tail-coverts metallic green 

 or bronze-green, margined (broadly toward base) with pale brownish 

 or grayish butfy; femoral tufts brownish wliite; bill dull black; iris 

 dark brown; feet grayish brown or dusky; length (skins), 98-118 

 (109); wing, 59.5-68.5 (65.2); tail, 35-45.5 (40.4) ; culmen, 19.5-23.5 

 (21.2).« 



Adult female. — Similar to the adult male, but smaller and slightly 

 duller in color; length (skins), 96-113 (103); wing, 58-68 (62.3); tail, 

 34-43 (38.3); culmen, 16-23 (20.5).^ 



Yo?/'/i(5'.— Essentially like adults, but feathers of upper parts con- 

 spicuously tipped or marginetl with rusty brown or cinnamon, those 

 of under ])arts similarly but less distinctly margined, the chin and 

 throat dull metallic green (the brilliant feathers of the adult plumage 

 first appearing on center of throat). 



« Thirty spcrimpiiri. 



'' Twelve specimens. 



Loeality. 



MALES. 



Teu adult males from Costa Rica 65.3 40.6 21.3 



Six adult males from Panama 64.9 40 21.8 



Five adult males from Colomt)ia 63. 4 39. 4 20, 6 



One adult male ( C. c. ?) from eastei-n Kcuaddr 68. 5 40. 5 19 



Nine adult males from Venezuela 66.2 40.9 20.9 



FEM.^^LES. 



Seven adult females from Costa Rica 60.5 37.7 20.3 



Two adult females ( C. c. — ?) from eastern Ecuador 61. 2 36. 7 20. 7 



Five adult females from Venezuela 64.9 39.2 20. 



I feel quite sure that several of the alleged females from Venezuela are in reality 

 males with the sex wrongly determined. If these were eliminated the average dimen- 

 sions of the female would be considerably reduced. 



Specimens from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela seem to be quite 

 alike; but those from eastern Ecuador (Baeza) are easily distinguished by their 

 conspicuously buffy under Lail-co verts and (at least in males) larger size. 



Ex- 

 posed 

 culmen. 



