58 SYNOPSIS OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 



I think there are four species belonging to this genus, of which two have been 

 placed together by authors, and one considered the immature dress of the other. 

 They are all large fine birds, distinguished by their luminous throat marks, and 

 generally shining plumage. 



Key to the species. 



A. No luminous spot on forehead. 



a. Centre of throat brilliant metallic-topaz, or flarae-color. 1. I. liiminosa. 



b. Centre of throat metallic violet-purple ; buff stripe from gape to 



beneath the eye. 2. /. schreibersii. 



B. Metallic luminous spot ou forehead. 



a. Breast black. . 3. /. frontalis. 



b. Breast green. 4. /. whitehjana. 



1. *Iolaema luminosa. 



lolcema luminosa, Elliot, Ibis (1878), p. 188. 



Jlab. Unknown. 



Top of head and nape dull dark green ; chin and sides of the throat black ; 

 centre of throat most brilliant topaz, changing, according to the light, into a flame- 

 color or a brilliant emerald-green ; back bronzy-green, graduating into a rich 

 purplish-red upon the upper tail coverts; breast, flanks, and abdomen brilhant 

 metallic coppery-red ; wings dark purple ; tail has the median rectrices bronze ; 

 lateral ones dark purple, tinged with green upon the outer webs ; under tail coverts 

 reddish-bronze, margined with white; bill black; feet brownish-black. Total length, 

 4| in. Wing, 2| in. Tail, 2 in. Bill, culmen, i| in., at gape 1 in. 



The type of this species, the most beautiful of the genus, is unique, and in Mr. 

 Goidd's collection. 



2. lolaema schreibersi. 



Trochiliis schreibersii, Bourc, P. Z. S. (184.5), p. 43. 



Thalurania schreibersii, Bon., Consp. Gen. Av., vol. i, p. 17 (1850). — Pelz., Orn. Br.is., p. 31. 



Calvlhorax schreibersii, Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. i, p. — . 



Campylopterus schreibersii, Bon., Rev. and Mag. Zool. (1854), p. 2.50. 



Heliodoxa (lonolaima) schreibersii, Reicuenb., Trocb. Enuni. p. 6, pi. 745, fig. 4710-11 (1855). 



lonolaima schreibersii, Gould, Men. Troch., vol. ii, pi. 93. — Reich., Aufz. der Colib., p. 9 (1853). 



lolmna schreibersii, Gould, Intr. Troch., octavo ed., p. 73. — Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, ii, p. 138. 



Hah. Ecuador, Rio Napo. 



Male. This diff'ers from the /. frontalis, by having the entire upper part of the 

 head shhiing grass-green, without any metallic spot on the forehead. Throat and 

 breast as in frontalis, but beneai h, this is more or less glossed with green upon the 

 abdomen, leaving only the centre black. A buff stripe goes from the gape to 

 beneath the eye. 



Female. Upper parts bronze-green. Median rectrices bronze, rest steel-blue, two 

 outermost ones tipped with gray. Under surface gray, each feather tipped with 

 green. The dimensions of the two species are the same. 



I have kept these apart as I cannot satisfy myself that this bird is only an imma- 

 ture stage of plumage of the /. frontalis. 



