6 TROCHILID.E. 



upper surface and wing-coverts golden green, the golden hue predominating on 

 the lower part of the back ; wings purplish brown ; tail purplish black, glossed 

 with dark green ; behind the eye a spot of white, and on the cheeks a streak of 

 grey ; centre of throat rich metallic purplish crimson, on each side of which is 

 a series of elongated feathers of a rich deep metallic blue ; under surface deep 

 green, passing into rich blue on the middle of the body ; tuft on each side and 

 vent white ; under tail-coverts green, fringed with white ; bill black ; feet 

 blackish brown: whole length 5-2 inches, wing 2-3, tail 1-7. Female: the 

 whole of the upper surface golden bronze, inclining to grey on the crown ; tail 

 green, deepening into black towards the extremity, and a spot of white at the 

 tip of the three outer feathers of each side ; wings purplish brown ; under sur- 

 face grey, fading into white on the throat and middle of belly. 

 Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. 



Of the three Humming-birds which visit the vicinity of Buenos 

 Ayres in the summer months, Mr. Durnford tells us this is the rarest. 

 It is occasionally seen in the riverain wood, and like the other two (Hylo- 

 charis sapphirina and Chlorostilbon splendidus) may generally be found 

 hovering over the flowers of the Ceiba-tree a species of Erythrina. 



Further to the north this species would seem to be more abundant. 

 Dr. Burmeister met with it near Tucuman and Parana, and at one time 

 described the young birds obtained in the latter locality as of a distinct 

 species ( Campy lopterus inornatus), an error which he subsequently 

 corrected (cf. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 466). White procured it in the city of 

 Catamarca in August 1880. 



Mr. Barrows has published the following interesting account of his 

 observations on this species in Entrerios (Auk, 1882, p. 2]) : 



" Early in September, at Concepcion, when the orange-trees are just 

 whitening with blossoms, these magnificent Humming-birds arrive from 

 the north, and may occasionally be seen about the orange-trees in 

 any garden, as well as about blossoming trees elsewhere. The males 

 seemed for some reason to be much less abundant than the females, 

 hardly more than a dozen being seen in an entire season. They 

 probably nest in November and December, and leave for the north 

 again in February or March. A nearly finished nest, found November 

 17, was very similar to that of our own Ruby-throat (Trochilus colubris) 

 but larger, and was built in the compound fork of a large limb at a 

 height of over 25 feet from the ground. It was deserted soon after, 

 perhaps as a result of my examination. Ten days later another nest 

 was found saddled on the topmost horizontal limb of a dead and moss- 

 grown stub ; only about seven feet from the ground, and exposed to 

 the full force of the sun. This nest contained two eggs nearly ready 

 to hatch. Both nests were beautifully covered with lichens, and the 

 last was lined with the finest of vegetable down. The female made 



