Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trochilid^. 43 



also the feathers of the back, of this colour, presenting a very 

 different appearance from the colder green back and grey 

 tail of the typical style of this species. Two of these red- 

 tail specimens are males, with brilliant heads; the others, 

 possibly females, have bronzy red heads, the same colour as the 

 tail, but with very little metallic lustre, rather dull in fact. 

 The colour of the heads of the males is golden green, and not 

 grass-green, like typical T. milleri. I do not remember ever 

 having seen these differences between examples of this species 

 referred to by any ornithologist ; and, although they are very 

 great, sufficient to constitute a well-marked race, if not a 

 species, yet, mindful of the manner in which birds of this 

 family vary in coloration, I hesitate to regard this red form 

 as distinct, until at least more ample materials are available 

 for comparison, and an increased knowledge of the species- 

 may enable us to determine the range of the two styles, and 

 to ascertain if they have a different dispersion. 



I obtained my red specimens from M. Bourcier ; and they 

 are marked as coming from " New Granada.^' 



5. Thaumatias candidus. 



Trochilus candidus, Bourc. & Muls. Ann. Sci. Phys. et Agri- 

 cul. Lyon, 1846, p. 326. 



Thaumatias candidus, Gould, Intr. Mon. Troch. 8vo ed. 

 p. 151; id. Mon. Troch. v. pi. 292. 



Hab. Guatemala (Salvin), Mexico {Salle), Honduras 

 {Taylor). 



This well-known and rather plainly attired species was 

 described by MM. Bourcier and Mulsant (/. c.) from a spe- 

 cimen obtained at Coban, in Guatemala. It is not an un- 

 common bird in Southern Mexico and Guatemala, in which 

 countries numerous specimens have been procured by Messrs. 

 Salle and Salvin respectively. In Honduras it was observed 

 by Mr. Taylor, but not in any great numbers ; and I believe 

 this country is the southern limit of its range. In the vicinity 

 of Coban this species appears to be more numerous than 

 elsewhere. 



