TKOCIIILID.E — THE IIUMMING-BIRDS — HELIOP^EDICA. 365 

 Heliopsedica Xantusii, Laweence. 



XANTUS'S HUMMING-BIRD. 



Amnz'ilia Xantmii, Lawrexce, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VII. April, 1860, 109. — HeUoprvdka 

 Xanlusii, Gould, Mon. Trocli. II. ; pi. 65. Ib. lutrod. Troth. 61. — Elliot, 111. B. N. 

 A. I. pi. 23. 



Heliopcedlca castaneocauda, Lawke.vce, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1860, 14.^ (femiilc). 



Sp. Char. Male. Above metallic fjreen ; the forehead, cheeks, and cliin, velvety- 

 black (the former perhaps deep blue when in perfbct plumage). A distinct white stripe 

 from bill, throuLi;h and behind the eye. Throat and fore part of breast, brilliant metal- 

 lie green ; rest of under parts cinnamon-rufous. All the tail feathers iiurplish-rufous ; the 

 central glossed with green above near the ed<:cs; the others obscurely edged with blackish 



along ends. Bill red at base : black at ends. Length, .3.50 ; wing, 2.10; tail, 1.40; ex- 

 posed portion of bill about 0.65. 



Female. Forehead and all under parts light cinnamon beneath, without any green or 

 any dusky specks on throat ; white cheek stripe appreciable, but tinged with rufous. Tail 

 as in male, but the central feathers entirely gi-een above ; the others, except the outer, 

 with a dusky greenish or purplish spot on each web near the end. Whole upper mandi- 

 ble apparently dusky ; base of lower, red. 



Hah. Cape St. Lucas. 



This Avell-marked and interesting species we o^ve to JNIr. Xantus, with 

 many other birds of the West Coast. It is sufficiently distinct to require 

 no comparison than that given under the general head ; it can be separated 

 from H. mdanotis in all stages of pkimage by the rufous tail. 



Specimens vary sometimes in the intensity of the rufous shade ; and, as 

 stated, it is probable that the forehead, instead uf being black in full plu- 

 mage, is deep blue, as in mdanotis. (Baird.) 



