116 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 



Hal. Porn. 



Male. Upi)pr surface bronzy-green with a brownish shade. Rump rufous. Throat 

 metallic amethystine-red changing to a purple-blue in certain lights. Under surface 

 wrayisli-whitc, washed with green on the flanks. Median rectrices olive-green, 

 lateral ones purplish-brown. AVings purplish-brown. Bill black. Total length, 

 5| in. Wing, 2| in. Tail, 2| in. Culmen, If in. 



Female. Upper parts like the male, but paler. Central tail feathers and bases 

 of the lateral ones bronzy-green ; those next the central ones tipped with black, 

 rest with white tips and subterminal black bar. Total length, 4| in. Wing, 2| in. 

 Tail, \^% in. Culmen, \j\ in. 



2. "^Rhodopis atacamensis. 



Rhodopis atacamemis. Leyb., Ann. Univer. Santiago de Chili (18G9), p. — Martens, Journ. fur Ornith. (1875), 

 p. 442. 



Hab. Chili. 



This bird is a small form of the R. veqwr, with a paler colored throat. As the 

 type is the only specimen I have seen, and is the only one that has been procured, 

 so far as I know, it is difficult for me to say if it should really be considered as a 

 distinct species. 



Type. 

 T. rornuia, Pr. Max, 

 T. cornuta, Pr. Max. 

 T. cornuta, Pr. Max. 



Fig. G7. 



Genus LIX.— HELIACTIN. 



Heliactin, Boie. Isi.'! (1831). p. .i4G. 



Heliactinia. Reich.. Aufz. der (!((lib., p. 12 (18.'i3). 



Hel iactinus , Burmeist.. Tli. Bras., toin. ii. p. 3.iG (1854-.')6). 



Ch. Bill longer than the head, slender, termi- 

 nating in a sharp point. On either side of head 

 a tuft of feathers forming a short elevated crest. 

 Wings long, pointed. Four median rectrices 

 longest, broad at base, and graduating to a point. 

 Tarsi bare. Sexes unlike. 



Range. Brazil. 



This is one of those aberrant forms that unfor- 

 tunately arc so frequently met with among the 



Trochilidse. It is not in fact particularly related to any other genus, and the single 

 species possesses characters not found elsewhere. I however place it here, which 

 is probably not far from its rightful position. — The species is peculiar for the 

 brilliant tufts on each side of the head. 



ndiactin contula. S ■ Miuas Caeras, Brazil. Vcrdey. 



1. Heliactin cornuta, 



Trochihis cormitus. Pr. Max., Beit, zur Naturg. von Bras., p. 99. 



Trnchiliis dilophus, ViEii.i,., Ency. M6th., vol. ii, p. 573. 



Trochihis bilophus, Temm., Plan. Col, pi. 18, fig. 3.— I,e.'!.s., Man. Ornith., ton; ii, p. 76. 



MeUisuija cornuta. Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. i. p. 113, up. 67. 



