64 



SYNOPSIS OF THE U U M M I N G-B I R D S. 



Ch. Bill about as long as head, stout, 

 straight, pointed at tip; feathers of the forehead 

 projecting on to the bill, covering the nostrils ; 

 wings lung, narrow, and pointed; tail rather 

 long, forked ; tarsi clothed to the base of the 

 toes. Sexes dissimilar in plumage. 



Range. Costa Rica, Veragua, Venezuela, 

 Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru. 



I recognize but three species belonging to 

 this genus. 



Key to the species. 



A. Under surface sbining metallic-green. 



a. Spot of metallic-blue on the throat. 



a'. Entire crown metallic grass-green. 



b'. Centre of crown metallic grass-green, bordered with black, 

 b*. Throat and breast metallic-green, no spot on the throat. 



Fig. 31. 



Eetiodvxajacala. cT ad. Vutagua. 



1 . H. jacula. 



2. H. jamesoni. 



3. H. leadbeateri. 



This genus, generally supposed to consist of five species, but which I have 

 reduced to three, comprises birds of rather large size, possessing a plumage of 

 extremely luminous colors, confined, as is usually the case, chiefly to the males. 

 The plumage of the sexes is very different, and the species are distinguished by 

 the presence or absence of a luminous spot on the throat, and by the various shades 

 of green which compose the hues of their dress. They terminate the section of 

 the Family to which they belong. 



1. Heliodoxa jacula. 



JJeliodoxa jacula, Gour.n, P. Z. S. (1849), p. 96. — Id., Mon. Troch., vol. ii, pi. 94.^Id., Intr. Troch., octavo ed., 

 p. 74. — Cab. and Hein., Mus. Hein. Th., iii, p. 22 (note 4) (1860). — Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn 

 ii, p. 202. 



Leadbealera jacula, Bon., Consp. Gen. Av., p. 70 (1850).— Reich., Aufz. der Colib., p. 7 (1853). — Bon., Rev. 

 and Mag. Zoo!. (18,54), p. 251. 



Cceligena jacula, Reich., Troch. Enum., p. 4, t. 688, fig. 4522 (1855). 



Ilab. Costa Rica, Veragua, and Columbia, 



3Iale. Crown of the head and under parts brilliant metallic-green. In the centre 

 of the throat a spot of metallic purplish-blue. Back shining grass-green. Wings 

 purplish-brown. Upper tail coverts bronzy-green. Under tail coverts dark brown 

 with green reflections. Tail blue-black. Bill black. Total length, 5^ in. Wing, 

 2| in. Tail, 2^ in. Culmen, f in 



Female. Upper parts dark grass-green. Under parts white with the tips of all 

 the feathers metallic-green, giving to this part of the plumage a spotted appearance. 

 Tail bluish-black, lateral feathers tipped with white. 



Some specimens have a line beneath the eye and the lores reddish-bufi". 



