226 



SYNOPSIS OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 



white. Tail bluish-black. Maxilla black, mandible flesh-color, tip black. Feet 

 brownish-black. Total length, 3| in. Wing, 2^ in. Tail, 1| in. Culmen, | in. 

 (Type in my collection.) 



24. ^Amazilia elegans. 



Erythronota? elegans, Gould, P. Z. S. (1860), p. 307.— Id , lutr. Troch., octavo ed., p. 162 (1861). 

 Erasinia elegans, Heine, Journ. fiir Ornilh. (1863), p. 191. 

 Spuradinus incertus, Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, ii, p. 76. 



Hah. ■? 



" Crown and all the under surface of the body glittering light green ; back of the 

 neck and back golden or orange-green ; upper tail coverts purplish-red or puce 

 color; tail long forked, and of a purplish-violet hue Avith green reflections on the 

 tips of the two centre feathers ; wings purplish-brown ; tarsi white ; under tail 

 coverts gray with bronzy-purple centres ; maxilla flesh-color at the base, and black 

 for the remainder of its length ; mandible flesh-color except at the tip, which is 

 black. Total length, 3| in. Wing, 2i in. Tail, | in. Bill, \\ in."— (Gould, 

 Mon. Troch.) 



The members composing the next genus, usually known as Heliopcedica, Gould, 

 but which is antedated thirty years by Basilinna, Boie, have usually been placed, 

 since Mr. Gould's arrangement Avas published, near to C^^ligena (Belaiii-ia). I 

 do not see that it has any afl[inity Avhatever for the species of that genus, but is 

 closely related to Eucephala. Indeed, if the B. levcotis is compared Avith the E. 

 GRAYi, it Avill readily be seen hoAv close is the resemblance of the tAvo birds, the 

 principal dift'crence being that leucotls has a stripe over the eye, and Avliich was one 

 of the cliief reasons, it Avould seem, that these birds Avere placed near CyELIgena. — 

 The two species are small birds, with brilliant metallic plumage, and the sexes are 

 altogether difierently clothed. 



Genus CX.— BASILINNA. 



Basilinna, Boik, Isis (1831), p. .'J46. 



Heliop cedica, Gould, lutr. Troch., octavo ed. (1861), p. 60. 



Ch. Bill straight, about equal to the head. Wings 

 long. Tail almost square, feathers broad ; tarsi clothed ; 

 hind toe shorter than the middle one. Sexes dissimilar 

 in plumage. 



Range. Cape St. Lucas, California, Mexico, Guate- 

 mala. 



Two species are known. 



Key to the species. 

 A. Upper parts bronzy-green. 



a. Median vectrices bronze-green, rest black, bronze tips. 



b. Tail deep chestnut, tipped with bronze. 



Type. 

 T. leucotis, Vicill. 

 T. leucotis. Vieill. 



Fig. 117. 



JSasilinna IcumtU- S . Oasaci. SaUe. 



1. B. leucotis. 



2. B. xanthusi- 



