458 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



They had already paired, and were constantly to be seen hovering over the 

 flowers. Their notes consisted of a rapid chirping sound. As Dr. Kennerly's 

 party approached the coast of California, where the valleys abounded with 

 flowers of every hue, these birds continued flitting before them in great num- 

 bers. Dr. Coues states that this species was not taken at Fort Whipple, though 

 abundantly distributed throughout the Territory, particularly in its southern 

 and southwestern portions, and found about fifty miles south of Prescott. 

 It is presumed to winter within the Territory, and also within the valley of 

 the Colorado. Dr. Cooper did not observe any at Fort Mohave until March 

 5, and they were not numerous afterwards. At San Diego, in 1862, when 

 the spring was unusually backward, he saw none before April 22, and he has 

 since met with them as far north as San Francisco, where, however, they are 

 rare. The notes uttered by the male he compares to the highest and sharp- 

 est note that can be drawn from a violin. Nothing more is known as to their 

 distinctive specific peculiarities. 



Genus SELASPHORUS, Swainson. 



Selasphorus, Swainson, F. B. A. II, 1831, 324. (Type, Trochilus rufus.) 



As already stated, the characters of Selasphorus, as distinguished from 

 Calypte (to which it is most nearly related, through the C. floresi), consist in 



the lack of metallic feathers on the crown, and 

 in tlie attenuation of the outer primary, and the 

 pointed and acuminate cuneate (instead of 

 forked) tail. 



As distinguished from Trochilus, the quills 

 diminish gradually, instead of showing an ab- 

 rupt transition between the fourth and fifth, so 

 characteristic of the two species of Trochilus, as 

 restricted. The very attenuated tip of the outer 

 primary is a character entirely peculiar to Selasphorus. 



The two North American species, though strictly congeneric, differ from 

 each other considerably in details of form, as well as in color. They may 

 be distinguished from each other and from their two Central American 

 allies as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Feathers of the metalhc gorget not elongated laterally. 



S. platycercus. Above continuous metallic green ; tail-feathers merely 

 edged Avith rufous. Gorget purplish-red. 



Wing, 1.90 ; tail, 1.40 ; bill (from forehead), .66. Gorget rich solferino- 

 purple, the feathers grayish- white beneath the surface. Outer primary 

 with its attenuated tip turned outward. Hob. Rocky Mountains and 

 Middle Province of United States, south to Guatemala . var. 2)laty cercus. 



Selasphorus rufus. 



