ARINIA. 209 



Genus CIV.— AlUNIA. 



Ttpe. 

 Arinia, Muls., Ann. Soc. Linn., 1877 (Oct.). ^. boucardi. 



Ch. Bill subcylindrical, until near the point, when it is slightly swollen; shorter 

 than half the body. Tail slightly forked. Wings narrow, reaching for three-fourths 

 the length of the median rectrices. The external rectrices are slightly shorter than 

 the ones next to them. Sexes unlike in plumage. 



Range. Costa Rica. 



But one species is known, brought from Costa Rica by M. Boucard. It is very 

 close to the genus Agtktria, and were the male alone known, the propriety of 

 separating it from that genus might possibly be questioned, but as the female is 

 quite different in the coloring of her plumage from the male, while the sexes of 

 Agtrtria do not differ in their dress, it would seem to be best to allow tlie present 

 species a distinct generic rank. This genus connects Agtrtria with Elvira. 



1. "^Arinia boucardi. 



Arinia boucardi, Muls., Ann. Soc. Linn., I-yon, 1877 (Oct.). 



Male. Upper surface and flanks bronzy-gi-een, darkest on the head. Throat and 

 breast shining bluish-green. Abdomen and under tail coverts pure white. Median 

 pair of rectrices dark bronze-green; next bronze-green with black tip, remaining 

 lateral feathers bronze-green at base, rest black, the bronze-green decreasing in 

 extent as it goes towards the external feather. All the lateral feathers edged with 

 white at their tips. Maxilla black, mandible flesh-color, tip black. Feet black. 

 Total length, 3[| in. Wing, 2 in. Tail, l/jj in. Culmen, }i in. 



Female. Differs in having the middle of the throat, breast, and under parts pure 

 white. Median rectrices bronzy-green, lateral feathers green at base, then black 

 and tipped witli gray. Rest like the male. 



Allied to the members of the genus Agtrtria are the two species placed respec- 

 tively by Messrs. Lawrence and Gould in the genera Eupherusa and Thaumatias. 

 They, however, differ in many ways from the members of those genera, especially 

 in the shape of the bill, and the dissimilarity in the plumage of the sexes. I have 

 employed for these birds the term Elvira, proposed by M. Mulsant, as I consider 

 they represent a very distinct generic form. They are small in size, with the greater 

 portion of the plumage metallic-green, but the tails are almost entirely piu'c white, 

 a very uncommon feature among the Trochilidse. 



27 January, 1870. 



