TROCHILIDuE : HUMMINGBIRDS. 553 



AMIZI'LIS. (Latiuized from amazili, vox barb.) Amazili Hummers. Belonging to a 

 group which includes Basilinna and lache; very unlike any of the others. Nasal scale large 

 and tumid ; nasal slit entirely exposed ; feathers extending 

 iu a point on sides of culmen, sweeping obliquely across 

 basal part of nasal scale, and forming at angle of mouth a 

 deep re-entrance with those of chin, which reach much far- 

 ther forward on interramal space. Bill light-colored, dark- 

 tipped, quite broad and flattened at base, thence gradually 

 tapering to the acuminate tip, slightly bent downward, the 

 curve most noticeable just back of the middle. Tarsi 

 appearing feathered nearly to toes, but really naked except 

 at the top in front. No lengthened ruffs or tufts about 

 head ; no metallic scales on top of head, different from those pj^ 371. — Lucifer Hummingbird. ^, 



of upper parts at large; no special head- markings. Tail nat. size. (FromEUiot.) 

 ample, forked or emarginate, the feathers all broad and obtuse, with simply rounded ends. 

 No peculiar primaries, though the outer ones are narrower and more falcate than the next. 

 Of large size, usually 4.U()-5.()0. Sexes alike in form and color. An extensive genus, cover- 

 ing some 25 species, two of which are known to reach our border: foregoing characters more 

 particularly applicable to these. {Amazilia of former eds. of the Key.) 

 A. tzacat'l. (Apparently Aztec, ^acatl, grass, herbage ; given as the proper name of a certain 

 Toltcc chief.) Rieffer's Hummingbird. Dusky-tailed Hummingbird. Tzacatl. Adult 

 (J 9 : Above, metallic grass-green, or golden-green, more brassy on crown and rump; hnig 

 upper tail-coverts cinnamon-rufous. Wings purplish-dusky, their coverts like back. Tail 

 deep chestnut, the feathers edged and ended with bronzy-purplish. Throat, breast, and sides 

 metallic green, glittering emerald in certain lights on the former, on the latter duller and more 

 bronzy ; feathers gray beneath the metallic tips, and this color prevailing on abdomen ; crissum 

 rufous ; fiank-tufts fleecy white. Bill extensively light-colored, dusky at end. Length about 

 4.U0; wing 2.25; tail 1.60; bill 0.80. Differs from the next iu not having the under ])arts ex- 

 tensively fawn-colored. Lower Rio Grande of Texas, to S. Am. A. fiiscocaudata of 2d-4th 

 eds. of Key, 1884-90, p. 4GG; A. fuscicaudata of A. O.U. Lists, 188()-1)5, No. 438; but Tro- 

 chiliis fuscicaudata Fraser, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 17, is antedated by T. tzacatl De La Llave, 

 Registro Trimestre, ii. No. 5, for Jan. 18:33, pub. not before Mar. p. 48 : see Riciim. Auk, Oct. 

 18n!>, p. 323. 



A. cerviniveii'tris chalcono'ta. (Lat. cerrinus, like a deer, cerriis ; iu this case meaning 

 fawu-colored ; ventris, of the belly ; Gr. xoXkoj, chalkos, brazen ; varos, notos, back.) RuFOUS- 

 BELLIED Hummingbird. Adult ^ 9 : Upper parts shining goldea-green, nearly uniform from 

 head to tail, but top of head rather darker, and with reddish gloss in some lights, and upper 

 tail-coverts somewliat shaded witli reddish. Metallic gorget of great extent, reaching fairly 

 on breast, glittering green when viewed with bill pointing toward observer, dusky-green when 

 seen in opposite direction. Less scintillating and more golden-green feathers extend a little 

 farther on breast and sides, and most of the under wing-coverts are similar. Belly and under 

 tail-coverts very dull rufous or pale cinnamon ; flocculent snowy-white patches on flanks. 

 Wings blackish, with purple and violet lustre. Tail large, forked about O.-'W; color intense 

 chestnut, having even a purplish tinge when viewed below ; middle feathers glossed with 

 golden-green, especially noticeable at their ends, and all the rest tipped and edi^'ed for some 

 distance with dusky. Length 4.00 or jnore; extent 5.50; wing 2.30; tail 1.50; bill 0.!»0. 

 Lower Rio Grande of Texas and southward. Only differs from the type form in paler belly 

 and crissum. Oberh. Auk, Jan. 1898, p. 32; A. O. U. Suppl. List, Auk, Jan. 1899, p. I 12. 

 No. 4.39. {A))ia;ili(i cerviniventris of former eds. of Key and A. O. U. Lists.) 



