32 



SYNOrSIS OF TUB HUMMING-BIRDS. 



Genus XIII.— LAMPROL^MA. 



Lamprolaima, Keich., Aufz. dor Colib. (1853), p. 9. 



Ch. Bill straight, slender, tip acute, about pj„ -^g 



equal in length to the head. Wings long, ample. 

 Tail long, slightly forked, feathers broad. Feet 

 rather large ; tarsi clothed to the toes. Sexes dis- 

 similar in plumage. 



Range. Mexico and Guatemala. 



Type. 

 0. rhami, Less. 



jAtmproliLina rhami. _$ . Oaxaca. Salle' 



This genus, comprising but a single species, is 

 closely allied to both the members of C^eligena 

 and Oreoptra, and finds its natural position here, 



as a connecting link for the two genera just mentioned. The L. rhami is a very 

 beautiful bird, about equal in size to the C. clemencia', and like that species has a 

 brilliant throat, Init diifers from it in its lustrous metallic breast, which equals 

 in beauty that of the Oreopyra calolcema, next to which species I have placed it. 



1. Lamprolaema rhami. 



Ornismya rhami. Less., Rev. Zool. (1838), p. 315. 

 Mellisuga rhami, Gray, Geu. Birds, vol. i, p. 112. 

 Lampornis rhami, Bon., Consp. Gen. Av., p. 72 (1850). 



Lamprolaima rhami, Reich., Aufz. dcr Colib., p. 9 (1853). — Id., Trocli. Enum , p. 6, pi. 746, fig. 4712-13 (1855). 

 Ddaltria rhami, Bon., Rev. and Mag. Zool. (1854), p. 253. 

 Helivdoxa rhami, Rhich , 'I'roch. Euuin., p. G (1855). 



Lamprolwma rhami, Gould, Men. Trocli., vol. i, pi. fil. — Id., Intr. Troch., octavo cd., p. 59 (ISGIV 

 Lamprolaema rhami, Cab. and Hein., Mus. Hein. Th., iii, p. 30 (1860). — Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, 

 i, p. 218. 



Eicih. Mexico, Guatemala. 



Ifale. Entire upper surface grass-green. Greater wing coverts, secondaries, and 

 basal two-thirds of primaries chestnut-red, remainder purplish-brown. Throat 

 metallic amethyst-red, surrounded by black. Breast metallic dark blue. Rest of 

 under surface blackish-brown spotted with green. Tail deep rich purple. BiU 

 black. Total length, 4| in. Wing, 2f in. Tail, 2 in. Culmen, f in. 



Female has the entire under surface grayish-brown ; and the outer tail feathers 

 are tipped with gray. 



