466 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



place called Chimachoyo near Calderas, in the Volcan de Fuego, and other 

 specimens taken in the ticrra calicnte, near Coban, showing that, like many 

 other species, it is found in very different climates. 



Genus HELIOP^DICA, Gould. 



Heliopcedica, Gould, Mon. Trochilidse, II, Introd. Trocliil. 1861, 60. (Type, Trochilus 

 melanoius, Swainson.) 



Gen. Char. Bill longer than head, depressed, broad at its exposed base ; the frontal 

 feathers not advancing forward beyond the beginning of the nostrils, nor so far as those 



of the chin. Hind toe shorter than the lateral, 

 tarsi feathered ; outer primary not attenuated. 

 Tail nearly even, slightly rounded and emarginate, 

 the feathers broad, the webs nearly even. Metallic 

 feathers of throat not elongated. Female quite 

 similar in form. 



Heliopmdica xantusi 



This genus is quite peculiar among those 

 of North America in the exposure of the 

 base of bill, which is entirely bare between 

 the lengthened nostrils, instead of covered 

 by the frontal feathers. This makes the 

 bill appear very broad, although it really 

 is more so than in the other genera. The feathers on the chin extend con- 

 siderably beyond those of the forehead, instead of to about the same line. 

 The tail and its feathers are much broader than in the other genera. 



The two known species of this genus may be distinguished by the follow- 

 ing characters : — 



Common Characters. Above metallic green ; tail plain black or chestnut, 

 glossed with green, and without white in either sex. A conspicuous white post- 

 ocular stripe, and a blackish auricular one beneath it ; beneath with more or less 

 green. ^. Forehead, chin, and side of head deep black or metallic dark blue; 

 throat and jugulum brilliant green. 9 • Front dull brownish-green ; chin, throat, 

 and jugulum white or ochraceous, with or without a green gloss. 



H. melanotis.^ Male. Belly white, glossed with green ; tail black beneath ; 



base of bill, all round, brilliant blue ; white cheek-stripe beginning back of 



the eye. Female. Beneath white glossed with green ; tail bluish-black. 



Hah. Guatemala and table-lands of Mexico. 



H. xantusi. Male. Belly cinnamon ; tail beneath purplish-cinnamon ; chin 



black ; white cheek-stripe beginning at the bill. Female. Beneath plain pale 



rufous ; tail deep rufous. Hah. Cape St. Lucas. 



1 Heliopcedica melanotis, (Swains.) Gould, Monog. Troch. II, pi. Ixiv. Trochilus vulanotiis. 

 Swains. Phil. Mag. 1827, 441. Trochilus Uucotis, Vieill. Ornismyia arsenni, Less. Hab. 

 Mexico and Guatemala. 



