Genera of Humming Birds. 309 



r Hemistcplianie de la Guyane. 



Habitat. — British Guiana. 



Male. — Exactly like the preceding species, with a dark 

 shining bronze-green tinge on the throat and breast when 

 presented flat, the bill against the light. 



Total length, 4iin. Wing, 2^. Tail, \\. Culmen, i^. 



Female. — Forehead metallic green. Head purplish-bronze. 

 Back golden-green. Uppertail-coverts grayish-black. Tail 

 bluish-black with grayish-white tips on lateral and outermost 

 rectrices. Chin rufous. Underside dark gray glossed with 

 bronze. Undertail-coverts bluish margined with gray. Wings 

 purplish. Bill black. 



Total length, 3fin. Wing, 2|. Tail, i|. Culmen, I5. 



This new species was discovered in British Guiana by the 

 late Mr. Henry Whitely. He collected the male on the 

 Carimang River, and the female in Merume Mountains. 



Types in Boucard's Museum. 



FAMILY XIV. PETASOPHORIDAE, 



OR Family of Violet-Ear Humming Birds. 



Size variable. The size of bill varies greatly. In the 

 genera Heliothrix and Schistes it is cuneate, wide at base 

 and gradually compressed towards the tip. In Petasophora 

 the bill is slightly curved and feathered at the base, the nasal 

 covers are also feathered, except along their lower edges. In 

 the genera Schistes and Heliothrix the nasal covers are 

 completely hidden. Maxilla and mandible more or less 

 serrated. Wings long, reaching the end of tail. Tail 

 metallic, slightly forked in Petasophora, cuneate in Heliothrix, 

 and rounded in Schistes. Glittering blue or violet ear tufts. 

 Sexes similar. 



Type : Petasophora, ■Gvd.y , List. Gen. Birds, 1840, p. 13. 



Rattge. — Mexico to Bolivia, Brasilia, Venezuela, Guiana and 

 Trinidad. 



Genus CXXVI. Schistes, Gould, Contr. Omit., 185 1, 



p. 140. 

 Type : T. albogularis, Gould. 



