TROCHILID^ — THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 467 



Heliopsedica xantusi, Lawrence. 



XANTTJS'S HUMMING-BIRD. 



Amazilia xantusi, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VII, April, 1860, 109. Hdiojjcedica 

 xantusi, Gould, Mon. Troch. II, pi. Ixv. — Ib. Introd. Troch. 61. — Elliot, 111. 

 Birds N. Am. xi, plate. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 365. Hdiopccdica castaneocauda, 

 Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1860, 145 (female). — Elliot, Illust. Birds N. Am. 

 I, xxii. 



Sp. Char. Male. Above metallic green ; the forehead, cheeks, and chin velvety black 

 (the former with a deep blue gloss). A distinct white stripe from bill, through and 

 behind the eye. Throat and forepart of breast brilliant 

 metallic green ; rest of under parts cinnamon-rufous; 

 all the tail-feathers purplish-rufous, — the central 

 glossed with green above, near the edges, the others 

 obscurely edged with blackish along ends. Bill red 

 at base, black at end. Length, 3.50 ; wing, 2.10 ; tail, 

 1.40 ; exposed portion of bill above, .65. Female. 



Forehead and all under parts light cinnamon beneath, "^^^^> A^l '^ 



without any green, or any dusky specks on throat; '^''^" )W/j//?( T^ 



white cheek-stripe appreciable, but tinged with rufous. ' 



Tail as in male, but the central feathers entirely green Hdiopczdka xantusi. 



above, the other, except the outer, with a dusky greenish or purplish spot on each web 

 near the end. Whole upper mandible apparently dusky ; base of lower, red. 



Hab. Cape St. Lucas. 



This well-marked and interesting species we owe to Mr. Xantiis, together 

 with many other birds of the west coast. It is sufficiently distinct to require 

 no comparison other than that given under the general head ; it can be sep- 

 arated from H. melanotis in all stages of plumage by the rufous tail. 



Specimens vary sometimes in the intensity of the rufous shade, and, as 

 stated, it is probable that the forehead, instead of being black, in full plu- 

 mage is deep blue, as in melanotis. 



Habits. This is a new and well-marked species, and although belonging 

 to the North American fauna cannot be claimed for the United States, hav- 

 ing thus far been only taken at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. Xantus, and described 

 by Mr. Lawrence in 1860. Nothing is known as to its specific habits. 



