FAMILY TROCHILIDAE 325 



with 1 at Concepcion on December 5. I found it fairly common at 

 Armuelles and also higher near El Volcan, and at Santa Clara to the 

 west. Apparently it is more abundant in southwestern Costa Rica 

 where its range extends to the lower Rio Grande de Tarcoles. It is 

 confined wholly to the Pacific slope in both republics, and is found 

 from the lowlands to the Subtropical Zone. 



The males of decora, compared to those of amabilis differ in larger 

 bill, which is longer in addition to being broader, especially at the 

 base. Furthermore, the entire body averages slightly larger. The 

 glittering green area of the crown cap is much larger as it extends 

 back to the nape, and also is wider as it covers the entire crown. 

 The rump, upper tail coverts and the tail are darker, less bronze. 

 The female is glittering green on the crown in contrast to the back, 

 in addition to its longer, heavier bill. Recent treatment has listed 

 decora as a geographic race of amabilis, but after examination of a 

 large number of specimens it appears to me more in accordance with 

 the facts to consider amabilis and decora a super species with each 

 accorded specific status. There is no question as to their general 

 resemblance, but I have found no individuals that show intergradation 

 in the characters mentioned. The amabilis group throughout its 

 extensive range is remarkably uniform, as is decora in its more 

 restricted geographic area. 



AMAZILIA AMABILIS (Gould) : Lovely Hummingbird, Colibri 

 Hermoso 



Trochilus amabilis Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pt. 19, 1851 (April 29, 



1853), p. 115. (Colombia.) 

 Amazilia amabilis costaricensis Todd, Ann. Carnegie Mus., vol. 29, December 31, 



1942, p. 330. (El Hogar, Costa Rica.) 



Small ; male, chin and breast green, foreneck blue, crown glittering 

 green; female, under surface white, spotted with light green; rump 

 and upper tail coverts bronze-green. 



Description. — Length 88-95 mm. Central rectrices definitely broader 

 than lateral pairs. Male, crown brilliant metallic green; occiput, 

 sides of head and neck, back and wing coverts metallic bronze-green ; 

 rump bronze ; upper tail coverts and middle pair of rectrices purplish 

 bronze ; rest of tail blue-black, in some with grayish white tips; wings 

 dusky with a violaceous sheen; chin and upper throat dull metallic 

 green, with the feathers tipped with dusky; lower foreneck metallic 

 violet-blue ; upper breast, sides, and under wing coverts dull metallic 

 green; narrow median line of breast and abdomen light brownish 



