628 BULLETTlSr 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



spicuoi isly, smaller than the rest, with a more or less prominent angle 

 on edge of inner web near tip. Tail of adult males about three-filths 

 to two-thirds as long as wing, slightly forked or deeply emarginate 

 (but with outermost rectrix shorter than the next pair), the middle 

 rectrices very broad, with rounded tip, the others gradually decreas- 

 ing in width to the lateral pair, all contracted or narrowed terminally 

 and obtusely pointed; in adult females less than three-fifths as long 

 as wing, double-rounded, the lateral rectrices subcuneate terminally, 

 the outer pair not distinctly incurved. 



Coloration. — Above metallic bronze-green, including middle rec- 

 trices, the pileum duller or darker; beneath mostly dull whitish or 

 grayish. Adult males with cliin (sometimes upper throat also) 

 opaque black, the throat (at least lower portion) bright metallic red 

 or violet, the lateral rectrices wholly purplish black; adult females 

 with cliin and throat wliitish (sometimes flecked or streaked with 

 dusky), and lateral rectrices tipped with wliite (the outer pair some- 

 times wholly wliite), black subterminally, grayish or bronze-greenish 

 basally. 



Range. — Temperate and subtropical North America; one species 

 migratory in winter as far as western Panama. (Two species.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ARCHILOCHUS. 



a. Throat (at least partly) bright metallic red or violet, the chin (sometimes upper 



throat also) velvety black; tail forked, the lateral rectrices wholly purplish 



black. {Adult males.) 



b. Thi-oat bright metallic red. (Eastern North America; south in winter over 



nearly whole of Mexico and Central America to western Panama and to Cuba.) 



Archilochus colubris, adult male (p. 629). 

 bb. Throat purple or violet. 

 c. Lower half of throat violet to violet-blue; tail shorter, the lateral rectrices 

 23.5-28 (25.6), middle rectrices 20.5-23.5 (21.9). Southern British Columbia 

 to northern and western Mexico.) 



Archilochus alexandri, adult male (p. 633). 

 cc. Greater part of throat magenta purple; tail longer, the lateral rectrices 30, 

 middle rectrices 23. (Santa Barbara, California.) 



Archilochus violaiugulum,« adult male (p. 636). 



aa. Throat and chin dull white (sometimes flecked with dusky); tail double-rounded, 



the lateral rectrices broadly tipped with white and with a basal area of gray 



or greenish. {Adult females.) 



b. Smaller; wing 43.5-45.5 (44.5), tail 25-26.5 (25.6), exposed culmen 17-18.5 



(18.2); under parts more whitish. .Archilochus colubris, adult female (p. 629). 



bb. Larger; wing 46-48.5 (47), tail 26-27.5 (26.8), exposed culmen 24-26 (24.8); 



under parts more grayish Archilochus alexandri, adult female (p. 633). 



a Probably a hybrid of Archilochus alexandri and Calypte anna. 



