542 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MLTSEUM. 



Genus RICCORDIA Reichenbach. 



[Chlorestes.] 8. RiccorcUa Reichenbach, Aufz. der Colib., March?, 1854, 8. (Type, 

 Riccordia ramondii 'Reichenhach= Trochilus ricordii Gervais.) 



Ricordia (emendation) Simon, Cat. Troch., 1897, 18. 



Sporadinus Bonaparte, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., vi, May, 1854, 255. (Type, as 

 fixed by Gray, 1855, Trochilus ricordii Gervais.) 

 ' Sporadicus (emendation, on grounds of purism) Cabanis and Heine, Mus. Hein., 

 iii, March, 1860, 25. 



Small" Trochilidse (length about 95-105 mm.) resembling the longer 

 tailed species of OhIorostUhon, but with lateral rectrices relatively 

 much wider. 



Bill about as long as head, straight, slightly depressed; culmen 

 broadly rounded, but basally contracted into a more or less distinct 

 narrow ridge; tomia smooth; mandible with a distinct median lateral 

 groove, the maxilla with a faint indication of a similar one. Nasal 

 operculum broad and convex posteriorly, feathered on upper posterior 

 portion, the frontal feathering forming two obtuse antise which extend 

 about as far as middle of nasal operculum. Tarsus clothed with short 

 feathers; lateral toes about equal, slightly shorter than middle toe, 

 the hallux shorter than lateral toes. Wing more than three times as 

 long as exposed culmen (slightly less in females), the outer primary 

 longest. Tail nearly as long as wing in adult males, about three- 

 fourths as long in females, deeply forked, the lateral rectrices broad, 

 all rounded at tip. 



Coloration. — Above metallic green or bronze-green; adult males 

 with under parts bright metallic green (one species with a velvety 

 black jugular spot), the tail black with middle rectrices more or less 

 bronzy; adult females with under parts brownish gray, the tail much 

 as in adult males. 



Range. — Bahama Islands, Cuba, and Haiti. (Two species.) 



This genus is very close to Chlorostilhon, and differs mainly, if not 

 solely, in the relatively broader lateral rectrices, the form of the tail 

 being very similar to that of some species of Thalurania. As stated 

 under Chlorostilhon, it has been found necessary to transfer from this 

 genus to the latter B. maugsei, of Porto Rico, in order that it may be 

 possible to characterize the two groups. 



key to the species and subspecies of riccordia. 



a. Under parts mostly metallic green. {Adult males.) 

 b. No black on under parts. (Riccordia ricordii.) 

 c. Tail averaging longer and relatively more deeply forked (average length 43.9, 

 average depth of fork 23.2); rectrices less distinctly bronzy. (Cuba, includ- 

 ing Isle of Pines.) Riccordia ricordii ricordii, adult male (p. 543). 



cc. Tail averaging shorter and relatively less deeply forked (average length 41.6, 

 average depth of fork 19); rectrices more distinctly bronzy. (Bahamas.) 



Riccordia ricordii aeneoviridis, adult male (p. 544). 

 bb. A velvety black spot on center of chest and breast. (Haiti.) 



Biccordia swainsonii, adult male (p. 546). 



