108 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 



3. *Calypte helenae. 



Orthorhynclius lielcnm, Lambete, Aves Isle de Cuba, p. 70, pi. .\, fig. 2 (1850). 

 Orlhorhynchus hoollii, Gundl., Journ. fUr Oniitli. (1856), p. 99. 



Calyptc helence, Gould, Mod. Troch., vol. iii, pi. 136. — Id., Inti-. Troch., octavo ed., p. 88 (1861). — Elliot, Ibis 

 (1872), p. 354. — Gundl., Journ. fiir Ornith. (1874), p. 144. — Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Moucli., torn, iv, p. 



77 (1877). 



Hah. Cuba. 



Male. Head, throat, and feathers of the neck metallic-crimson. Upper parts and 

 flanks greenish-blue. Under surface white. Tail deep greenish-blue. Wings pur- 



Tail, ^ in. 



Culmen. i in. 



plish-brown. Total length, 2g in. Wing, 1| in. 



Female. Head brown. Upper parts dark green, changing into bluish-green on 

 the lower part of the back. Under surface grayish-white. Median rectrices dark 

 bluish-green ; lateral ones bluish-green at base, rest black tipped with white. Bill 

 black. 



Genus LIV.— SELASPHORUS. 



Selasph orus , Swain., Faun. Bor. Amcr.. vol. ii. p. 490 (1S31). 



Ch. "Stature small Bill subulate and very 

 straight. Feathers of the neck elongated. Wings 

 short, feeble, the quills narrowed and sometimes 

 pointed. Tail moderate graduated, the feathers 

 attenuated towards the end, their tips mucronate." 

 (Swains, 1. c.) 



Banije. Western North America from Nootka 

 Sound to Mexico and into Veragua, Central America. 



Eight species are recognized belonging to this 

 genus. They are of small size, with very brilliant 

 throats, and cuneate shaped tails, the rectrices in 

 the majority of the species being rather narrow and 

 pointed. One species has a silvery throat 



Type. 

 T. riifus. Gmel. 



Fig. 58. 



Sclaspliorua' rv/us. £. California. Mr.Woods. 



Keij to the species. 



A. Head and throat metallic-scarlet. 



B. Throat metallic amethystine-red. 



a. Size large. Under parts gray. 



b. Size small. Flanks and abdomen dark green. 

 C Throat metallic rose-red. 



D. Throat metallic fiery-red. Rectrices narrow, pointed. 



a. Sides of head and neck, and rump, rufous, back bronzy-green. 



b. Sides of head and neck bronzj--green like the back. Diminutive of a. 



E. Throat glittering orange. Rectrices broad, lateral ones next to median pair 



with a well-developed notch on inner web. 



F. Throat pale lilac-red, in some lights silvery-gray. 



1. S. floresii. 



