14 Hensiiaw on Selasplwrus alleni. 



not have been the one with the bright green back. " Trochilus 

 rufus subtua exalbidus " points at once to the Rufous-backed form. 

 The other bird with the small amount of rufous below would 

 scarcely have suggested tins name. Referring to Swainson's ac- 

 count, which was, as Mr. Elliot remarks, in all probability based upon 

 one of Gmelin's original specimens, possibly his type, we find his 

 description beginning thus, " General tint of the upper plumage 

 rufous or cinnamon, which covers the head, ears, neck, back, 



rump, upper tail-coverts, and margins of the tail-feathers " 



This applies perfectly to the Rufous-backed form, but in no wise 

 meets the necessities of the other bird. For while color is not the 

 most desirable test, and may often prove unreliable, yet in the case 

 of the males of these two birds the variation in color, while consid- 

 erable, as pointed out in my former article, is never sufficient to 

 obliterate their specific distinctness. They may be invariably told 

 by the color of the back alone. 



Mr. Elliot appears to have overlooked much of Swainson's article. 

 For in his remarks that author states, after indicating that he has 

 before him one of Gmelin's original specimens as correctly quoted 

 by Mr. Elliot, " We are likewise able to vouch for its geographic 

 range to the southward as far as the table-land of Mexico, near Real 

 del Monte ; specimens from that part having been obligingly sent 



us for examination " Thus Swainson vouches for the identity 



of Gmelin's original specimen, perhaps type, with the Mexican 

 form, which is, as Mr. Elliot says, the Rufous-backed bird. Could 

 stronger proof be asked 1 



Mr. Elliot's discrimination in the color of the ruff's of the two 

 species I have not been able to verify. The differences lie appears 

 to have found in his specimens I am sure, after having ex- 

 amined numerous individuals, are not constant, and hence are 

 of no use as diagnostic features. Mr. Elliot says, "I do not 

 think that the females have any metallic feathers on the throat." 

 In this he is mistaken. Adult females invariably have a metallic 

 patch nn the median line of the throat. The young males are very 

 differently marked, and have the metallic feathers, which become 

 brownish towards the chin, distributed quite evenly over the throat, 

 the space occupied by them often indicating the extent of the ruff 

 of the following year. The young females alone have the throat 

 almosi immaculate, or faintly flecked with brown. 



Bangs, We have no proof at the present time showing that the 



