458 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



They had already paired, and were constantly to be seen hoverin*; over the 

 llowers. Tlieir notes consisted of a rapid chirpinj^; sound. As Dr. Kennerly's 

 ])arty approached the coast of California, where the valleys al»ounded with 

 flowers of every hue, these l»irds continued tlittiuj^ before them in <.,'reat num- 

 bers. J )r. ( 'ones states that this species was not taken at Fort Wliipple, though 

 abundantly distributed tliroughout the Territ )ry, particularly in its southern 

 and soutliwestern i)ortions, and found about fifty miles south of rre.scott. 

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

 the Colorado. Dr. Cooper did iKJt observe any at Fort Mohave until March 

 T), 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. 



Selasphorus rufus. 



Genus SELASPHORUS, Swainson. 



Sdasphorus, Sw.viNso.v, F. B. A. 11, 1831, 324. (Type, Trodiilus ruftcs.) 



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

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



the lack of metallic feathers on the crown, and 

 in the attenuation of the outer primary, and the 

 pointed and acuminate cuneate (instead of 

 forked) tail. 



As distinguished from TrochUva, the quills 

 diminish graduallv, instead of showini; 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 Xorth American species, though strictly congeneric, differ from 

 each other considerablv in details of form, as well as in color. Thev may 

 be distinguisiied from each other and from their two Central American 

 allies as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



A* Feathors of the metallic crorgot not elongated laterally. 



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

 edged with rul'ous. Gorget purjtlish-red. 



Wing. 1.90; tail, 1.40; lijjl (from I'orehead), .GO, Gorget rich solferino- 

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

 with it.s attenuateil tip turned outward. Hab. Rocky Mountains and 

 Middle Province of L^nited States, south to Guatemaht . var. platij cer cus. 



