TKur'lIlLlD.K -TIIK lIlMMlXd-lUIlDS. 457 



Calypte costse, (Jollh. 



COSTA'S HUMMINO-BIBO ; BUFFE9 HT7M1IEB. 



Ornismya cosfa; R..n:rir.i:, IJ.-v. Zoi.I. Oct. 1S31», 294 (Lower California). — In. Ann. Sc. 

 riiys. ft .IHist. Nat. .1.' lAon, l^lo, -J-J.'., t.J). ii. — I'kkvo.st & De.s Mii;s, Vovago ilc la 

 Nenus, Zool. 1, I*:..'., 11)4, Atlas, tab. ii, f. 1, 2. Sehtsji/wnts casta', 15(.n. Cunspcctus 

 Aviuju, I, ISfjO, 82. Atthis coshr, Wymuv.sv.mw, t'al). .lour, fiir Orn. Extrahcft, 

 1S.".3, 1854. - r.Aiuir IJinls N. Am. 18.'.8, 138, j)!. xix. — Ki: nnkuly, P. 1{. U. x, b, 

 3t), pi. xix. Caii/jUc coalit; GoLLD, Mon. Iliuuniing-liirds. — C'uoi'KK, Orn. Cal. I, 

 1870, 3(J0. 



Sp. Chak. Tail very sli;^'htiy rniarLriiiatcl ami rouiKkMl ; i-xU-rior tei'ther very narrow, 

 and linear. A very lon<( rutr <.n each .side of the throat. Head ahove and buiow, with 

 the ruU; covered with metuliic red, purple and violet (sometimes steel green). Uemain- 

 injjT upper })art.s and sides of the body jrreen. Throat under and between the mils, side 

 of head behind the eye, anal region, and under t;.il-eoverts whitish. Female with the tail 

 rounded, .^^eareely emarginate; barred with black, and tipi)ed with white. The metallic 

 colors of the head wanting. Length. :j.'JO ; wing. L7o; tail, LIO; bill. .OS. 



If AiJ. Mexico, .Southern California, and the Colorado Ba.sin, Monterey (Xkuoux). Ari- 

 zona (CouEs, P. A. N. 8, 1800, 57). 



Specimeii.s vary considerably in tlje color of the ruff, which, however, is 

 only occasionally green ; violet lieing the lavvailing shade. The length of 

 this ap])eiidage varies considerably. 



The female of this .s])ecies dilfers much from the nirde in the absence of 

 the metallic scales on the head and throat. It has a close resemblance to 

 the female T. coJuhrh, although the bill is smaller and narrower. The tail- 

 feathers are narrower, more linear, and less acutely pointeil at the tij). The 

 black on the outer tail-feathers, instead of extendinii verv iiearlv to the 

 base, is confined to the terminal half, the basal portion being green. All 

 the tail-feathers are terminated bv white, althoui-h that on the fourth and 

 fifth is very narrow. In T. coIuhrU this color is confined to the three outer 

 ones. The nuich smaller size will alone distinguish it from the female 

 of C. anna. 



Habits. This .species is a ^fexican bird, first discovered by Signor Floresi 

 among the valleys of the Sierra Madre, in that country, throughout the west- 

 ern portions of which it is said to be an abundant species, as well as 

 along our southern borders, whence it extends into Xew Mexico, the Colo- 

 rado Vallev, Southern California, and Arizona. It was first described bv 

 Uourcier in 18:*)l>, and named in honor of the }.rar([uis de Costa, of Chambery. 



^L". Xantus found this species exceedingly abundant at Cape St. Lucas. 

 It has also been found on the eastern coast of the Gulf of California, at 

 Guaymas, and Mazatlan, and also on the table-lands of Mexico. 



It was first ad<led to our fauna by Dr. Kennerly, who obtained specimens 

 near l>ill Williams Fork, in Xew Mexico, February 9, 185-i. At that early 

 season a few flowers had already expanded beneath the genial rays of the 

 sun, and around them the partv rarelv failed to find these beautiful birds. 



VOL. n. 58 



