TROCIIILIDiE — THE IIUMMIXG-BIRBS — ATTHIS. gQl 



Genus ATTHIS, Reichen'bach. 



Atlhis, Eeichenbach, Cabanis, Jouru. fiir Oru. ; ExtrahoCt fiir 1853, 1854, Appendix B. 

 {Type, Oiiiijsntija Helolsir .) 



Gex. Chau. Size very diiuinutivf ; Ijill ^llOl■t, ^curoel}- longer than the head. Outer 

 primary attenuated as in Sdasphorus : the tail graduated ; the feathers, however, not lan- 

 ceolate-acute, but rounded at end, and tipped with wliite in the male. 



This genus seems closely related to Schisphurus, agreeing in character of 

 throat, the curious attenuation of outer primary, and the general shape of 

 the tail, with its rufous base and edging. The featliers, however, are not 

 lanceolate or pointed, either sharj^ly as in *S'. ruj'us, or obtusely as in 

 platyccrcim, but are more equal to near the end, where they round off. 

 The white tips of the tail in the male .seem to be the principal reason why 

 Mr. Gould removes tlie single species from Sdasphorus, where it was pre- 

 ■\-iously placed liy him, and where perhaps it iiught have not inappropriately 

 remained. 



Atthis HeloiSce, Lesson. 



HELOISA'S HUMMING-BIED. 



Orni/smijn Heloism, Lessox, Delattre, Rev. Zuol. 1839, 15. (Xalapa.) — Mellisnrja Uctoisce, 

 Gray and Mitchell, Gen. Birds, I. 113. — Trijphw.na Ihloisn:, Boxaparte, Consp. 

 Troch. Rev. Ma^. Zool. 1854,257. — Selasphorus Heloisn; Goui-D, Mon. Trochil. III.; 

 pi. 141. — Altliis Ileloisu;, Reichenbach, Jour, fiir Orn. E.xtraheft, 1853, App. 12. — 

 Gould, Intvod. Trochil. 1861, 89. — Elliot, B. N. A. I. pi. 21. 



Sp. Cn.\R. Above, metallic green with golden reflections ; beneath white, the sides of 

 breast glossed with green, the Hanks with rufous, which tinges very faintly tne crissum. 

 Gorget brilliant violet or light jiurpli.sh-reil, bordered Ijehind Ijy clear white. All the tail 



feathers rufous-cinnamon for liasal half; the three outer, Mack centrally and tipped with 

 white (mixed with reddish on the third) ; the Iburth, gi'een centrally tipped with black ; 

 the central, entirely green for the exposed portion, perhaps glossed with blackish at the 

 end. Length, 2.7U ; wing, 1.35; taU, 1.00 ; exposed part of bill above, 0.45. 



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